Portable telephony apparatus with music tone generator

ABSTRACT

A sound control apparatus is provided in a portable terminal for sounding a music tone in association with operation of the portable terminal, which is controlled by a main CPU. In the sound control apparatus, a memory memorizes music information representing a music tone and configuration information associated to a timbre of the music tone. An information acquiring section acquires the music information and the configuration information from the memory. A tone generating section is configured by the acquired configuration information to create a timbre specified by the configuration information. The tone generating section operates according to the acquired music information to generate the music tone being represented by the music information and having the specified timbre. A dedicated CPU is provided separately from the main CPU for controlling the memory, the information acquiring section and the tone generating section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a sounding controlapparatus, and a portable terminal apparatus and a system that use thissounding control apparatus. More particularly, the present inventionrelates to sounding control apparatus built in a portable terminalapparatus such as a portable telephone terminal, and a base stationhaving a database system for providing various pieces of informationsuch as music information to this sounding control apparatus.

[0002] Recently developed portable telephone terminals have a capabilityof sounding a melodious ringing tone to notify call termination on them.This ringing melody is a sequence of monotones based on buzzer sound.The sound information for use in creating the melodious ringing tone canbe downloaded from a base station for example.

[0003] However, melodious tone reproducing devices such as mentioned asfor use in conventional portable telephone terminals can neitherreproduce music that sounds two or more tones at a time nor allowvarious settings such as timbre and effect. Namely, the conventionalmelody tone reproducing devices cannot reproduce various kinds of musicfor user enjoyment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is therefore a main object of the present invention to providea sounding control apparatus that facilitates the setting, editing, andcreating of music tone information such as timbre and effect forproducing a melody sound at call termination or background music (BGM)during talking by sounding two or more tones at a time by use of an FMtone generator for example in a portable terminal device. Soconstituted, the sounding control apparatus according to the inventioncan realize the reproduction of rich and various sounds adapted to theprocessing capacity of portable terminals and user preferences.

[0005] It is another object of the present invention to provide aportable terminal apparatus that provides various operating modes inwhich audio and video signals are used along with reproduced tones foruser enjoyment.

[0006] It is a further object of the present invention to provide aportable terminal apparatus that can provide a Karaoke play bysynchronously treating music performance and words display.

[0007] It is a still further object of the present invention to providea potable terminal apparatus, a music tone information service systemand a base station, in which the potable terminal apparatus is capableof mounting a detachable recording medium that can realize various kindsof music data processing capabilities such as a change in tempo,automatic composition, voice-pitch detection, chord detection, stylereproduction, format conversion of music information, and triallistening of music information.

[0008] In carrying out the invention and according to a first aspectthereof, there is provided a sounding control apparatus for use in aportable terminal apparatus capable of sounding a music tone,comprising: an information acquiring means or section for acquiringperformance information and timbre-associated configuration informationand effect-associated configuration information; given a timbre set onthe basis of the timbre-associated configuration information, a tonegenerating means or section for generating a tone signal correspondingto the performance information; an effect imparting means or effectorsection for imparting an effect set on the basis of theeffect-associated configuration information to the generated tonesignal; and an output means or section for outputting the tone signalimparted with the effect.

[0009] In carrying out the invention and according to a second aspectthereof, there is provided a sounding control apparatus for use in aportable terminal apparatus capable of sounding a tone, comprising: astorage means or memory section for storing music tone information; atone generating means for generating, on the basis of the music toneinformation stored in the storage means, a tone signal having apredetermined timbre and imparted with a predetermined effect; and acontrol means for controlling the storage means and the tone generatingmeans independently of the portable terminal apparatus.

[0010] In carrying out the invention and according to a third aspectthereof, there is provided a portable terminal apparatus comprising: astorage means for storing music tone information, audio information, andvideo information; a sounding control apparatus for generating, on thebasis of the music tone information stored in the storage means, a tonesignal given with a predetermined timbre and/or a predetermined effectcorresponding to configuration information included in the music toneinformation; and a means for generating, on the basis of the audioinformation and the video information stored in the storage means, anaudio signal and a video signal. The music tone information stored inthe storage means is presented in a format which is downsized ascompared with a general-purpose music tone information format incorrespondence with a storage size of the storage means.

[0011] In carrying out the invention and according to a fourth aspectthereof, there is provided a music tone information service systemcomposed of a portable terminal apparatus capable of sounding a tone anda base station having a music tone information source, comprising: aninformation selecting means or section for selecting, according toselecting information sent from the portable terminal apparatus,corresponding music tone information from the music tone informationsource; configuration information attaching means or section forattaching, to the selected music tone information, configurationinformation indicative of a timbre and an effect to be given to the tonesounded in the portable terminal apparatus; and a sounding controlapparatus for generating, on the basis of the music tone informationattached with the configuration information, a tone signal given with apredetermined timbre and/or a predetermined effect. This music toneinformation service system further comprising: a charging means orsection for executing a charging operation on the portable terminalapparatus which sent the selecting information.

[0012] In carrying out the invention and according to a fifth aspectthereof, there is provided a music tone information service systemcomposed of a portable terminal apparatus capable of sounding a tone anda music tone information processing apparatus capable of creating orediting music tone information, comprising: an information compressingmeans or section for compressing the created or edited music toneinformation; and a sounding control apparatus for generating, on thebasis of the compressed music tone information, a tone signal given witha predetermined timbre and/or a predetermined effect.

[0013] In carrying out the invention and according to a sixth aspectthereof, there is provided a music tone information service systemcomposed of a portable terminal apparatus capable of sounding a tone anda music tone information source which stores music tone information,comprising: an information acquiring or capturing means or section foracquiring or capturing the music tone information stored in the musictone information source into the portable terminal apparatus; aninformation editing means or section for editing the captured music toneinformation; and a sounding control apparatus for generating, on thebasis of the edited music tone information, a tone signal given with apredetermined timbre and/or a predetermined effect.

[0014] In a seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided aportable terminal apparatus comprising a memory means for memorizingperformance information and words information corresponding toprogression of a performance, a tone generation control device operativebased on the memorized performance information for sequentiallygenerating a music tone signal, and a display means operative based onthe memorized words information for generating a words display signalcorresponding to the generated music tone signal. Further, there isprovided a portable terminal apparatus comprising a memory means formemorizing first performance information, second performanceinformation, and words information corresponding to performanceprogression of the second performance information, a tone generationcontrol device operative based on the first performance information andthe second performance information for generating a first music tonesignal and a second music tone signal, respectively, a display meansoperative based on the words information for generating a words displaysignal corresponding to the second music tone signal, and a controlmeans for controlling the tone generation control device to generate thefirst music tone signal in precedence to generation of the second musictone signal.

[0015] According to the first aspect of the invention, a portableterminal apparatus capable of sounding tones has a sounding controlapparatus that is given a timbre to be set on the basis oftimbre-associated configuration information to generate a tone signalcorresponding to performance information and to impart an effect to beset on the basis of effect-associated configuration information to thegenerated tone signal. Consequently, two or more tones can be sounded ata time by use of an FM tone generator for example, thereby providingrich and various ringing melodies, BGM during talking, and music at anytime desired.

[0016] According to the second aspect of the invention, the controlmeans (CPU), which operates independently of the portable terminalapparatus, is used to generate a tone signal having a predeterminedtimbre and imparted with a predetermined effect. Consequently, tonesignal generation processing can be executed with relatively high degreeof freedom without being restricted by the control of the portableterminal apparatus main.

[0017] According to the third aspect of the invention, a tone signalimparted with a predetermined timbre and/or effect corresponding toconfiguration information included in music tone information isgenerated on the basis of the music tone information and, at the sametime, an audio signal and a video signal are generated on the basis ofaudio information and video information. Consequently, the user canenjoy the reproduced tone in various modes supported by the audio andvideo signals. In addition, according to the storage size of the storagemeans used, tone signals are generated by use of music tone informationpresented in a format which is downsized as compared with ageneral-purpose music tone information format. Consequently, qualitytones can be reproduced within the maximum allowable range of the dataprocessing and storage capacities of the portable terminal apparatuswithout weighing upon the memory of the apparatus.

[0018] According to the fourth aspect of the invention, a music toneinformation service system is formed by portable terminal apparatusesand the base station (server) having a music tone information source.According to the selection information sent from any of the portableterminal apparatus, the base station selects corresponding music toneinformation from the music tone information source. The base stationcreates configuration information indicative of a timbre and/or aneffect to be imparted to a tone which is sounded in the portableterminal apparatus. On the basis of the music tone information attachedwith the created configuration information, the portable terminalapparatus generates a tone signal imparted with the predetermined timbreand/or effect. Consequently, rich and divergent tones can be provided byeffective use of the server database. In addition, the chargingprocessing is executed to the portable terminal apparatus that sent theselection information, thereby providing appropriate services to theusers of particular portable terminal apparatus.

[0019] According to the fifth aspect of the invention, music toneinformation is shared by a music tone information processing apparatusbased on a personal computer or an intelligent electronic musicalinstrument. Music tone information of a desired format is created oredited in the music tone information processing apparatus to compressthe created or edited music tone information into a size suitable forthe portable terminal apparatus. Therefore, the novel constitutionfacilitates the setting, editing, and creation of timbres and effect ofthe music tone information suitable for the capacity of the portableterminal apparatus.

[0020] According to the sixth aspect of the invention, music toneinformation stored in music tone information sources such as externalrecording media and telephone terminals is captured in the portableterminal apparatus for editing. Consequently, music tone information ofvarious forms can be processed into the music tone information suitablefor the capacity of the portable terminal apparatus or user preferences.

[0021] To sum up, according to the present invention, a tone generatorcapable of sounding two or more tones at a time is arranged in asounding control apparatus in a portable terminal apparatus to impart atimbre and an effect for example to a generated tone on the basis ofconfiguration information associated with tone sounding. This novelconstitution reproduces music, which is various in kind and rich inmusicality as ringing melodies, BGM sounded during talking, and music,which entertains the user as desired. In the present invention, eachpiece of information including music tone information can be capturedany time from external information sources such as base station,personal computer, other telephone terminals, and small-size or compactstorage media, which enhances system extensibility, thereby reproducinga wide range of a variety of music as ringing melodies and BGM forexample.

[0022] In addition, according to the present invention, the musicinformation to be captured in the portable terminal apparatus isattached with configuration information associated with tone sounding,compressed by deleting unnecessary information so as to fit the storagesize of the terminal apparatus, and format-converted so as to match inthe own model of the terminal apparatus concerned, thereby enhancingsystem extensibility still further. Besides, use of an editing meansfacilitates the acquisition of the music tone information attached withconfiguration information while downsizing the amount of theinformation.

[0023] According to the seventh feature of the invention, theperformance information and the words information corresponding toprogression of the music performance are memorized. The music tonesignal is sequentially generated according to the performanceinformation, while the words display signal corresponding to thegenerated music tone signal is generated according to the wordsinformation. Thus, the portable terminal apparatus such as a portabletelephone can provide a Karaoke play. The inventive apparatus can beefficiently used for Karaoke training by displaying and memorizingKaraoke words in a spare time. According to this feature, there aretreated first performance information, second performance informationand words information corresponding to the performance progression ofthe second performance information. A second music tone signal isgenerated according to the second performance information, and a wordsdisplay signal corresponding to the second music tone signal isgenerated according to the words information, thereby enabling Karaokeplay. Further, the first music tone signal is generated according to thefirst performance information in precedence to the Karaoke play, therebyenabling automatic switch from the Karaoke play to the reproduction of aringing melody according to the first music tone signal, while the wordsdisplay may not disturb telephone conversation.

[0024] In addition, according to a specific aspect of the invention,being associated with editing performance information, there is provideda potable terminal apparatus that comprises a storage means for storingperformance information, a means for displaying parameters in theperformance information stored in the storage means, and a means forediting the parameters displayed. The portable terminal apparatus candisplay one of parameters in the stored performance information whichthe user wishes to edit, so that the user can operate ten keys fortelephone number entry to input a parameter value, thus editing theperformance information.

[0025] In carrying out the invention and according to an aspect ofchanging the tempo of music information, there is provided a portableterminal apparatus that comprises a storage means for storing musicinformation, a tempo specifying means or section for specifying a tempo,and a control means for controlling, according to the tempo specified bythe tempo specifying means, the tempo of a tone to be sounded on thebasis of the music information stored in the storage means. The portableterminal apparatus allows the user to specify a tempo by use of at leastone of parameters. The parameters include an absolute value of the tempo(a numerical value), a word indicative of the tempo (such as “allegro”and “moderato”), a rate of change from a reference tempo (% or ±), andan intuitive word (“quick”, “slow” or “moderate”). Thus, the user canuse an operator of the portable terminal apparatus (main unit) tospecify a tempo so as to control the performance tempo of sounding musicsuch as a ringing melody or BGM.

[0026] In carrying out the invention and according to an aspect ofautomatic composition, there are provided a potable terminal apparatusthat comprises a means for setting an atmosphere of music, and a meansfor automatically creating music information according to the setatmosphere, and another portable terminal apparatus that comprises ameans for inputting a part of music data, and a means for automaticallycreating a whole of music information for a complete piece of music fromthe part of music data. The former terminal apparatus allows the user touse an operator to selectively set an atmosphere of music so as toautomatically create music information. The latter terminal apparatusallows the user to input the part of music data so as to automaticallycreate music information for a piece of music from the partial data.

[0027] In carrying out the invention and according to an aspect of pitchdetection, there are provided a portable terminal apparatus thatcomprises a means for selectively acquiring either tone signals inputfrom a microphone or tone signals received at a transmitting/receivingcircuit, a means for extracting a pitch sequence from the acquired tonesignals, and a means for creating music information on the basis of thepitch sequence extracted, and another portable terminal apparatus thatcomprises a means for acquiring a tone signal, and a means forextracting a pitch sequence from the acquired tone signals, a means fortransposing the pitch sequence extracted, and a means for creating musicinformation on the basis of the pitch sequence transposed. In theseportable terminal apparatuses, when a pitch sequence is extracted froman input tone, the former terminal apparatus can arbitrarily selecteither a tone input from a microphone or a tone input during talking,while the latter terminal apparatus can transpose the detected pitchsequence as required.

[0028] In carrying out the invention and according to an aspect of chorddetection, there is provided a portable terminal apparatus thatcomprises a storage means for storing music information, a musicanalyzing means for analyzing the music information stored in thestorage means, and a means for automatically creating, on the basis ofthe analysis result by the music analyzing means, performanceinformation associated with a chord fitting the music information. Theportable terminal apparatus can automatically create performanceinformation associated with the chord fitting the music information.

[0029] In carrying out the invention and according to an aspect of stylereproduction, there is provided a portable terminal apparatus thatcomprises a storage means for storing plural kinds of style information,and a means for joining the style information stored in the storagemeans to create music information. The portable terminal apparatus canstore plural kinds of style information and performance information andjoin them to reproduce a piece of music.

[0030] In carrying out the invention and according to an aspect offormat conversion, there are provided a music information servicesystem, composed of a potable terminal apparatus that performs a toneprocess using music information of a first format and a base stationhaving a music tone information source, wherein the base stationcomprises a format converting means for converting music information ofa format different from the first format into music information of thefirst format, and a base station capable of distributing musicinformation from a music information source to a potable terminalapparatus that performs the tone process using music information of afirst format, which comprises a format converting means for convertingmusic information of a format different from the first format into musicinformation of the first format. The music information service systemand the base station can convert music information for other models orgeneral-purpose music information incompatible with the first formatinto music information of the first format for its own model.

[0031] In carrying out the invention and according to another aspect offormat conversion, there is provided a music tone information servicesystem, composed of a potable terminal apparatus that performs a toneprocess using music information of predetermined format and a basestation having a music tone information source, wherein the base stationcomprises a means for receiving identification information associatedwith the terminal apparatus from the potable terminal apparatus, and ameans for creating, on the basis of the identification informationreceived, the predetermined format of music information from the musictone information source, and a base station, capable of distributingmusic information from a music tone information source to a potableterminal apparatus that performs the tone process using musicinformation of a predetermined format, which comprises a means forreceiving identification information associated with the terminalapparatus from the potable terminal apparatus, and a means for creatingmusic information of the predetermined format from the music toneinformation source on the basis of the received identificationinformation. Upon transmission of the information associated with theterminal (identification information) from the terminal to the basestation (server), the music tone information service system and the basestation can perform format conversion at the base station on the basisof the information concerned.

[0032] In carrying out the invention and according to still anotheraspect of format conversion, there is provided a potable terminalapparatus that performs a tone process using music information of apredetermined format, the potable terminal apparatus comprising a formatconverting means for converting music information of a format into musicinformation of a first format different from that before conversion. Thportable terminal apparatus can perform format conversion in its ownterminal apparatus from music information for other models orgeneral-purpose music information incompatible with the first formatinto music information of the first format for its own model.

[0033] In carrying out the invention and according to an aspect of triallistening, there are provided a music tone information service system,composed of a potable terminal apparatus capable of sounding a tone anda base station having a music tone information source, wherein the basestation comprises a means for transmitting information from the musictone information source as streaming data, and the potable terminalapparatus comprises a means for performing real-time reproduction of themusic information on the basis of the streaming data from the basestation, and a base station, capable of distributing music toneinformation from a music tone information source to a potable terminalapparatus capable of sounding a tone, which comprises a means fortransmitting information from the music tone information source to thepotable terminal apparatus as streaming data. The music tone informationservice system and the base station can perform streaming transmissionof information from the base station (server) to realize real-time triallistening on the portable terminal apparatus side.

[0034] In carrying out the invention and according to an aspect thereofrelated to a detachable recording medium, there are provided a potableterminal apparatus, capable of mounting a detachable small-size orcompact recording medium, which comprises a means for retrieving musicinformation stored in the detachable small-size recording medium, and ameans for processing the retrieved music information, and anotherpotable terminal apparatus, capable of mounting a detachable small-sizerecording medium, which comprises a means for processing musicinformation, and a means for writing the processed music informationinto the detachable small-size recording medium. Of these portableterminal apparatuses capable of mounting a detachable small-sizerecording medium, the former terminal apparatus can retrieve or loadmusic information from the recording medium into the terminal system,while the latter terminal apparatus can write music information fromvarious information sources into the recording medium.

[0035] The portable terminal apparatuses according to the invention mayhave sound sources of an FM type, a waveform memory type, or a physicalmodel type. The sound source circuit may be composed by DPS including amicroprogram or composed by a CPU including software. It should be notedthat “music tone information” and “performance information” may beinterchangeably used in the specification if there is no need todiscriminate therebetween. Further, “music information” may be used tocover both of “music tone information” and “performance information” asin the specification and the pending claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036]FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a basicconfiguration of a portable telephone terminal to which a soundingcontrol apparatus practiced as one embodiment of the invention isapplied.

[0037]FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a detail configuration of asounding controller practiced as one embodiment of the invention.

[0038]FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detail configuration of asounding controller practiced as another embodiment of the invention.

[0039]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of anenvironment in which the above-mentioned portable telephone terminal isused.

[0040]FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating one example of an informationformat of own model in the above-mentioned portable telephone terminal.

[0041]FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating one example of a conventionalinformation format of another model in a portable telephone terminal ofanother model.

[0042]FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a general-purpose music toneinformation format conventionally used in electronic musical instrumentsfor example.

[0043]FIG. 8 is a part of a functional block diagram illustrating aninformation transfer relationship in a first system composed of theabove-mentioned portable telephone terminal and a base station practicedas one embodiment of the invention.

[0044]FIG. 9 is another part of the functional block diagram shown inFIG. 8.

[0045]FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram illustrating an informationtransfer relationship in a second system composed of the above-mentionedportable telephone terminal and a personal computer practiced as oneembodiment of the invention.

[0046]FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram illustrating an informationtransfer relationship in a third system composed of the above-mentionedportable telephone terminal and a recording medium and another telephoneterminal.

[0047]FIG. 12 is a flowchart indicative of one example of own terminalprocessing in the above-mentioned portable telephone terminal.

[0048]FIG. 13 is a flowchart indicative of one example of serverprocessing in the above-mentioned base station.

[0049]FIG. 14 is a flowchart indicative of one example of PC terminalprocessing in the above-mentioned personal computer terminal.

[0050]FIG. 15 is an example of a music information format usable in thekaraoke mode in the portable terminal apparatus.

[0051]FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram illustrating synchronizationbetween music performance and words display in the terminal systempracticed as one embodiment of the invention.

[0052]FIG. 17 is a flowchart of “receive processing 1” which is anexample of the receive processing in the terminal system according tothe invention.

[0053]FIG. 18 is a flowchart of “other processing 1” which is an exampleof the other processing in the terminal system according to theinvention.

[0054]FIG. 19 is a flowchart of “selection/setting processing 1” whichis an example of the receive processing in the terminal system accordingto the invention.

[0055]FIG. 20 is a flowchart of “interrupt processing 1” which is anexample of the interrupt processing in the terminal system according tothe invention.

[0056]FIG. 21 is a flowchart of “selection/setting processing 2” whichis another example of the selection/setting processing in the terminalsystem according to the invention.

[0057]FIG. 22 is a flowchart of “edit processing 1” which is an exampleof the edit processing in the terminal system according to theinvention.

[0058]FIG. 23 is a functional block diagram illustrating the voicecomposing capability of the terminal system according to one embodimentof the invention.

[0059]FIG. 24 is a functional block diagram illustrating the automaticcomposing capability of a personal computer terminal for exampleaccording to one embodiment of the invention.

[0060]FIG. 25 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method ofautomatically creating music data in a potable terminal apparatuspracticed as one embodiment of the invention.

[0061]FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating an example of a musicalfeeling/style display screen in the potable terminal apparatus practicedas one embodiment of the invention.

[0062]FIG. 27 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method ofautomatically deciding a chord fitting music data in the potableterminal apparatus practiced as one embodiment of the invention.

[0063]FIG. 28 is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method ofassigning accompaniment parts fitting melody data to the melody part inthe potable terminal apparatus practiced as one embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0064] This invention will be described in further detail by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be notedthat the following embodiments are for illustrative purpose only andtherefore variations and modifications may be made within the scope ofthe invention.

[0065] Terminal system overview:

[0066] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram illustratinga basic configuration of a portable telephone terminal to which asounding control apparatus according to one embodiment of the inventionis applied. A terminal system TS comprises a terminal system centralprocessing unit (main CPU) 1, a terminal system read-only memory (mainROM) 2, a terminal system random access memory (main RAM) 3, a detector4, a display circuit 5, a receiver/transmitter 6, an audio controller 7,a sounding controller 8, a connecting circuit 9, and a communicationinterface (I/F) 10. These components 1 through 1 are interconnected by aterminal system bus (main body bus) 11.

[0067] In the above-mentioned mentioned terminal system TS, the main CPU1 for controlling the terminal system in its entirety executes variouscontrol operations such as talk control, screen control, and soundingcontrol according to predetermined computer programs. The main ROM 2holds predetermined control programs and control data necessary forexecuting these control operations. For example, as for music, the mainROM 2 holds music information, performance information, configurationinformation, tables for information format conversion, and tables forinformation compression, each in plurality, for sounding calltermination notice melodies and background music (BGM) to be playedduring talking. As for non-music information, the main body ROM 2 holdspredetermined audio and video information as configuration information.The configuration information herein denotes information which is set asconditions for executing the processing associated with acousticsounding or image display during talking or at other times. Thisconfiguration information includes audio information, video information,and audio and video control information in addition to themusic-associated configuration information such as tone timbre andeffect (including DSP).

[0068] The main RAM 3 holds data and parameters necessary for executingthe above-mentioned talk control, screen control, and sounding control.To be specific, this memory stores plural pieces of music information,performance information, and configuration information which areadditionally installed or newly created in the terminal system TS.

[0069] The detector 4 has an operator section 12 composed of controlssuch as push-button switches arranged on the surface of the body of theportable telephone terminal and detects the operation performed by theuser on these controls. These controls include a talk switch fortalking, a request switch for requesting the downloading of calltermination melodies, a setting switch for setting the soundingcontroller 8 (tone generator/effector), and switches for creating andediting various pieces of information. The display circuit 5 isconnected to a display 13 on LED screen of which various pieces of talkinformation, various pieces of melody information associated withsounding control, and various pieces of visual check information areshown.

[0070] The receiver/transmitter 6 has a communication antenna andcommunicates with other telephone terminals via a base station (or aserver station or a repeater station) for talking. This circuit is alsoused for requesting and receiving music information and configurationinformation. The audio controller 7 controls voice signals at talkingand tone input/output signals. This controller has a voice transmittingcapability for transmitting an input voice from a microphone (MIC) 17 tothe receiver/transmitter 6, a voice reproducing capability for sending atalk voice signal received at the receiver/transmitter 6 to a talkspeaker 15 and an external output terminal 16, and BGM reproducingcapability for sending a tone signal received from the soundingcontroller 8 to the talk speaker 15 and the output terminal 16.

[0071] The sounding controller 8 uniquely executes a sequence ofprocessing operations for controlling tone signals such as melodiousringing tone and BGM tone and can sound two or more tones at a time.Namely, the sounding controller 8 has a capability of synthesizing atone signal and sending it to the sound speaker 17 or the audiocontroller 7, thereby sounding tones such as melodious ringing tone andBGM. In addition, the sounding controller 8 has a digital outputterminal 18 for sending a digital tone signal to other devices that usedigital tone signals. It should be noted that the sound speaker 17 maybe configured to function as the talk speaker 15.

[0072] The connecting circuit 9 allows a portable detachable small-sizerecording medium 19 to be loaded on this terminal system TS. Theconnecting circuit 9 captures various pieces of information includingmusic information from the loaded small-size recording medium 19 intothe terminal system and writes these pieces of information to the loadedsmall-sized recording medium 19. The communication I/F 10 has a cableconnection terminal for connection with external equipment andcommunicates with other telephone terminals and personal computer (PC)terminals through a communication cable 20 connected to this terminal,capturing various pieces of information including music information fromthese devices into the terminal system TS and providing these pieces ofinformation from the terminal system TS to these devices.

[0073] The small-size recording medium 19 can store music informationand configuration information received from another telephone terminalor personal computer terminal through the communication cable 20 and thecommunication I/F 10, or from a server (BS) through thereceiver/transmitter 6. It can also store music informationautomatically composed or edited by use of its own potable terminalapparatus TS. The music information and configuration information storedare then read out and sounded as ringing melodies or BGM. The removablecompact recording medium 19 may be used for storing program instructionsexecutable by CPU to perform the inventive process.

[0074] Sounding controller (1)

[0075] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a block diagram illustratinga detail configuration of a sounding controller practiced as oneembodiment of the invention. In this example, the sounding controller 8contains no CPU; therefore, the sounding controller 8 is controlled bythe main CPU 1 of the portable telephone terminal (the terminal systemTS). The sounding controller 8 transfers music information, performanceinformation, configuration information, and other information (such asabout start/stop of reproduction) through a bus connection pathconnected to the system bus 11.

[0076] A controller 21 executes bi-directional communication with theterminal system TS main through the above-mentioned bus connection path.The performance information and configuration information prepared onthe main side or supplied from the outside are stored in the main ROM 2or the main RAM 3. The controller 21 stores the performance informationin a first-in first-out (FIFO) memory 22 and the configurationinformation about timbre and effect in a timbre/effect RAM 23. In such acase, the performance information and the configuration informationmemorized in the FIFO 22 and RAM 23 covers a whole or part of one musicsong.

[0077] The controller 21 reads the timbre configuration information andeffect configuration information (including DSP program) from thetimbre/effect RAM 23 on the basis of the timbre and effect specified bythe main side to set the timbre and the effect in a tone generator 24and an effector 25 respectively. Further, the controller 21 sendsinformation about the limits of storage capacities of the FIFO 22 andthe timbre/effect RAM 23 to the main side, thereby requesting the mainside to pause the information communication from the main side.

[0078] The FIFO 22 and a read circuit 26 function as performanceinformation supply controller that sequentially sends the performanceinformation received from the main ROM 2 or the main RAM 3 to a resourcecircuit. To be more specific, the FIFO 22 temporarily stores thereceived performance information in the order of reception. The readcircuit 26 accesses the FIFO 22 at predetermined time intervals tosequentially read information if any and output it to the tone generator24.

[0079] The tone generator 24 is an FM tone generator for example and cansound two or more tones at a time. The tone generator 24 sets a timbreto be sounded on the basis of timbre-associated configurationinformation received from the timbre/effect RAM 23 and, on the basis ofthe performance information received from the read circuit 26,sequentially synthesizes tone signals corresponding to the specifiedtimbre to send them to a mixer (MIX) 27.

[0080] The effector 25 sets effects such as reverberation to be impartedon the basis of the effect-associated configuration information receivedfrom the timbre/effect RAM 23. The effector 25 imparts the specifiedeffect to a signal inputted from the MIX 27 according to the DSP programand outputs the effected signal to the MIX 27.

[0081] A talk voice is inputted in the MIX 27 in the form of a digitalsignal through the connection path with the audio controller 7 of theterminal system TS main. The MIX 27 adds up the signals supplied fromthe tone generator 24, the effector 25, and the audio controller. To bemore specific, the following signals are inputted in the MIX 27:

[0082] (1) a synthesized tone signal SM from the tone generator;

[0083] (2) a talk voice signal ST from the audio controller 7; and

[0084] (3) an effected signal SE from the effector 25.

[0085] The input signals SM and ST are selectively outputted from theMIX 7 to the effector 25 to be imparted with an effect. Which signal isto be effected may be selected by operating a predetermined switch onthe operator section 12 of the terminal system TS. Then, the MIX 27outputs all synthesized signals to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC)28 and, at the same time, outputs these signals in the form of digitalsignals to the digital output terminal 18.

[0086] The DAC 28, an amplitude controller (VOL) 29, and an amplifier(AMP) 30 form an analog output unit. An analog music signal outputtedfrom the DAC 28 is adjusted in volume by the VOL 29 to be outputted tothe audio controller 7 of the terminal system TS main or sent to thesound speaker 17 through the AMP 30 for sounding as a tone. Namely, allthe synthesized signals are outputted from the VOL 29 to the audiocontroller 7 in the form of analog signals and also from the AMP 30 tothe speaker 17 in the form of analog signals for sounding.

[0087] Sounding controller (2)

[0088] Referring FIG. 3, there is shown a block diagram illustrating adetail configuration of a sounding controller practiced as anotherembodiment of the invention. In this example, the sounding controller 8contains a sounding control CPU 31 which controls the operations of thesounding controller 8 independently of the main CPU 1. The soundingcontroller of this example has the sounding control CPU 31, acommunication circuit 32, a timer 33, a sounding control ROM 34, asounding control RAM 35, a tone generator 36, an effector 37, a mixer(MIX) 38, and an amplitude controller (VOL) 39. These circuits 31through 39 are interconnected through a sounding controller bus(sounding control bus) 40.

[0089] The communication circuit 32 has the following two communicationcapabilities:

[0090] (1) Bi-directional communication with the main unit bus 11. Thecommunication circuit 32 records the music information, performanceinformation, and configuration information received from the outside ofthe terminal system TS through the main unit bus 11 into the soundingcontrol RAM 35 (it should be noted that the sounding control ROM 34holds various tables for sounding control). The communication circuit 32also various pieces of information (about the operations done on theoperator section of the TS main) associated with the selection of timbreand effect, parameter change, and selection of music information forreproduction. The received information is interpreted by the operationof the sounding control CPU 31. Processing according to the interpretedinformation, for example, the setting of a selected timbre, is executedon the tone generator 35. The configuration information corresponding tothe selected timbre is read out from ROM 34 or RAM 35.

[0091] Further, when controls of the main body is operated to commandediting of music information or configuration information stored in thetone generation control ROM 34 or tone generation control RAM 35 in thetone generation control circuit, selected information corresponding tothe operation is read out from the ROM 34 or RAM 35, and is sent to theRAM 3 of the main unit. The edit process is executed by use of the mainRAM 3. Upon completion of the edit process, the information is againoverwritten into the RAM 35 of the tone generation control circuit.

[0092] (2) Bi-directional communication with the audio controller 7. Thecommunication circuit 32 sends a tone signal for example synthesizedinside the sounding controller 8 to the audio controller 7, manipulates,inside the sounding controller 8, a talk signal for example receivedfrom the audio controller 7, and sends the manipulated signal to theaudio controller 7. The manipulation includes effect imparting to a talkvoice and pitch/timbre conversion of talking voice for example.

[0093] The sounding control CPU 31 controls the operations inside thesounding controller 8 independently of the terminal system TS main and,on the basis of a signal generated by the timer 33, sequentially readsthe performance information stored in the sounding control ROM 34 andthe sounding control RAM 35, thereby reproducing melodious ringing toneand BGM. In addition, the sounding control CPU 31 sends theconfiguration information from the sounding control ROM 34 and thesounding control RAM 35 to the tone generator 36 and the effector 37through the sounding control bus 40 for reproduction and controls tonetimbre settings and effect impartment settings. It should be noted thatsuch a start and stop process of the music performance is commenced inresponse to command operations utilizing controls 12 of the main unit.

[0094] The timer 33 generates a signal at predetermined time intervals.On the basis of the signal generated by the timer 33, the timing ofsounding of melodious ringing tone and BGM is controlled to determinethe performance tempo of each generated tone. This tempo may becontrolled by the user.

[0095] Control of the tempo may be carried out by any technique. Thefollowing techniques are considered effective:

[0096] (1) a technique for changing the cycle during which the timer 33generates a signal according to the set tempo (that is, for changing themusic information processing cycle);

[0097] (2) a technique for changing the timing data value in the musicinformation according to the set tempo with keeping the processing cycle(signaling cycle from the timer 33) constant; and

[0098] (3) a technique for changing how to count the timing data in themusic information to be processed at one time with keeping theprocessing cycle (signaling cycle from the timer 33) constant.

[0099] When specifying a tempo, the user may specify an absolute valueof the tempo (“120”, “150” or the like), a word indicative of the tempo(such as “allegro” and “moderato”), a rate of change from a referencetempo (percent (%) or increases/decreases (±)), or an intuitive word(“quick”, “slow” or “moderate”). These specifications are made via theoperator section 12 of the main unit.

[0100] The sounding control ROM 34 stores predetermined informationabout melodious ringing tone and BGM, performance information,configuration information, conversion tables for information formatconversion, and compression tables for information compression, each ofthese pieces of information being stored in plurality. The soundingcontrol RAM 35 stores plural pieces of added or newly created musicinformation, performance information, and configuration information.

[0101] The tone generator 36, in this example, is an FM tone generatorand capable of sounding plural tones at a time. The tone generator 36sets a sounding timbre on the basis of the timbre-associatedconfiguration information supplied from the sounding control ROM 34 andthe sounding control RAM 35. In addition, the tone generator 36, underthe control of the sounding control CPU 31 and the timer 33,sequentially synthesizes tone signals corresponding to the set timbreson the basis of the performance information supplied from the soundingcontrol ROM 34 and the sounding control RAM 35, outputting thesynthesized tone signals to the MIX 38.

[0102] The effector 37 sets an effect to be imparted to a tone on thebasis of the effect-associated configuration information supplied fromthe sounding control ROM 34 and the sounding control RAM 35 through thesounding control bus 40. The effector 37 also imparts an effect to thesignal inputted from the MIX 38 and the talk voice signal ST for exampleinputted from the communication circuit 32 and outputs the effectedsignals SE to the MIX 38.

[0103] The MIX 38 adds up the inputted signals and outputs the addedsignals to the digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 41 and the digitaloutput terminal 18. The signals to be inputted in the MIX 38 include:

[0104] (1) a synthesized tone signal SM from the tone generator 36;

[0105] (2) a talk voice signal ST from the audio controller 7; and

[0106] (3) an effected signal SE from the effector 37.

[0107] For effect imparting, the MIX 38 selectively outputs the inputsignals SM and ST to the effector 37. These output signals are set bythe operation of a predetermined switch on the operator section 12 ofthe terminal system TS main.

[0108] The amplitude controller (VOL) 39 and the amplifier (AMP) 42 forman analog output unit. The volume of an analog tone signal outputtedfrom the DAC 41 is adjusted in volume by the VOL 39. The adjusted analogtone signal is outputted to the audio controller 7 through the headphoneterminal and to the sound speaker 17 through the AMP 42.

[0109] Usage environment of the terminal system:

[0110] Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a schematic diagramillustrating one example of usage environment of the portable telephoneterminal according to one embodiment of the invention. In a firstenvironment, the user talks to the base station (server station) BS fromthe portable telephone terminal (the terminal system) TS through thereceiver/transmitter 6, selects desired music information, and asks forthe supply of the selected music information. The selected musicinformation is sent from the base station BS to the terminal system TS.On the basis of the supplied music information, melodious ringing toneand BGM played during talking are sounded.

[0111] In a second environment, the terminal system TS receives themusic information created in the personal computer terminal PC throughthe communication cable 20 connected to the communication I/F 10 anduses the received information as melodious ringing tone and BGM.

[0112] In a third environment, the terminal system TS captures musicinformation from the small-size external recording medium 19 loaded inthe connecting circuit 9. In a fourth environment, the terminal systemTS receives music information from the OS of another telephone terminalthrough a telephone line and the receiver/transmitter 6 via the basestation BS or via the communication cable 20 and the communication I/Fand uses the received music information for music sounding.

[0113] The music information captured in the terminal system TS fromsuch music information sources as the base station BS, the personalcomputer terminal PC, the external recording medium 19, and the OS ofanother telephone terminal is edited, compressed, and format-convertedin the information source BS, PC, and TS to be downsized into a formusable in the terminal system TS.

[0114] For example, the music information (including performanceinformation and configuration information) to be captured from theabove-mentioned information sources into the terminal system TS may havea format suitable for the own model or have another format. In the caseof the suitable format, the music information has been created in thesuitable format from the beginning or converted from another format intothe suitable format (this is referred to as format conversion). Thisformat conversion is executed in the base station BS or the personalcomputer terminal PC. If the music information having another format iscaptured in the terminal system TS, that format is converted into thesuitable format inside the terminal system TS.

[0115] Information formats:

[0116] Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown an example of an informationformat of the own model of the above-mentioned portable telephoneterminal. “Music information IA compatible with own model” that can behandled in this portable telephone terminal system TS and in othertelephone terminals of the same model executing information processingin the same format as that this portable telephone terminal system TS iscomposed of configuration information SA for setting timbre/effect andperformance information MA for tone performance as shown in FIG. 5. Theconfiguration information SA and the performance information MA arestored in minimum necessary so that they do not much occupy the memory(the RAM 3) of the terminal system but realize good music sounding. Inthe terminal system TS, sounding is controlled according to these piecesof information. In the following, the information format of this type isreferred to as “Own model format A.”

[0117] As for timbre, the configuration information SA includes:

[0118] (1) timbre number NA for identifying timbre type; and

[0119] (2) detail information (timbre parameter) DA for timbre settingin the tone generator.

[0120] The timbre parameter DA of (2) above includes algorithm data AA,frequency parameter (F parameter) FA, and envelope parameter (EGparameter) EA.

[0121] Algorithm data AA determines a combination or an algorithm ofplural operators in the FM tone generator (sine wave memory+output levelcomputing unit+envelope (EG) waveform synthesizer). The F parameter FAdetermines the frequency of read sine wave for each operator. The EGparameter EA sets plural level values and rate values for synthesizingan envelope waveform (an EG waveform).

[0122] The configuration information SA includes information for effectparameter setting, an effect program (a DSP program) for determining thecontents of the effector 25, audio information, and video information,in addition to the above-mentioned timbre-configuration information NAand DA.

[0123] The performance information MA includes performance informationsuch as timing data TM, key number KN, and gate time GT in the order ofperformance that can sound two or more tones at a time.

[0124] Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown an example of a conventionalinformation format in a portable telephone terminal of another model.The music information IB of conventional type used as melodious ringingtone in portable telephone terminals is only the performance informationrepresented by a symbol sequence composed of symbols a, b, c, and so onas shown in FIG. 6 and therefore has no configuration information. Inthe following, the information format of this type is referred to as“Conventional-model format B.”

[0125] To be more specific, the performance information IB of anothermodel is a string of symbols (#, 1, 2, 3, and so on) inputted by aten-key provided in the portable terminal apparatus, and is arranged inthe order of performance according to a predetermined rule. For example,numeral “1” represents pitch “do”, numeral “2” represents “re”, and soon. According to the number of continuous numerals, the length ofsounding is specified. Consequently, if symbol string a, b, c, and so onrepresents “1-1-2-1-1- . . . ”, then this symbol string represents atone denoting that “do” is sounded for a quarter, “re” is sounded for aneighth, and then “do” is sounded for a quarter again.

[0126] Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown an example of ageneral-purpose music tone information format conventionally used inelectronic musical instruments and so on. Conventional electronicmusical instruments use a music tone information IC composed ofconfiguration information SC for timbre/effect setting and performanceinformation MC for tone performance along the general-purpose music toneinformation format (SMF (Standard MIDI File) format) as shown in FIG. 7.In the following, the information format of this type is referred to as“SMF format C.”

[0127] Of the configuration information SC, the information for timbresetting includes:

[0128] (1) timbre number NC as timbre identification information; and

[0129] (2) timbre-setting detail information (timbre parameters) DC.

[0130] Unlike the timbre parameters DA for the terminal system TS, thetimbre-setting detail information DC of (2) above has many pieces ofinformation as shown in FIG. 7. For example, in addition to thealgorithm data AC and the F parameter FC, the detail information DCincludes rate scale data RS for controlling EG level by pitch to besounded. The EG parameter EC also includes more detailed information andtherefore has higher number of level values and rate values than the EGparameter EA in the configuration information SA in own model format Ashown in FIG. 5. It should be noted that the excess information in thedetail information DC is compressed (or deleted) as not indispensable inthe terminal system TS when executing the format conversion from the SMFformat into own model format A in the systems including the terminalsystem TS.

[0131] The performance information MC is of “duration DR+event IV”format. Key-on and key-off events are stored along with the durationdata DR, so that the amount of the performance information MC isrelatively large. In addition, velocity data are stored for each key-onevent. The velocity data are also compressed (or deleted) in the formatconversion into the own model format A.

[0132] In this embodiment, the music information IC of FIG. 7 and themusic information IA of FIG. 5 have one part construction.Alternatively, the music information IC and IA may have multiple partconstruction. In such a case, a single of configuration information maybe stored for all of the parts.

[0133] [Transfer of information with base station]

[0134] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, there are shown functional blockdiagrams illustrating information transfer relationships between theabove-mentioned terminal system and base station which constitute afirst system. In the present invention, the own terminal namely theportable telephone terminal system TS receives music information andconfiguration information from the base station BS. These pieces ofinformation are format-converted in the base station BS as required whenthey are requested from the terminal system TS. Therefore, when thesepieces of information are received by the terminal system TS, they arein the format available for the terminal system TS.

[0135] First, the terminal system TS starts a request information sendmodule (S1) and calls the base station (server station) BS through thereceiver/transmitter 6, requesting the server station BS according to apredetermined instruction for downloading information from a database DBof the server station BS. To be more specific, during talking with theserver station BS, the music information, performance information, andtimbre information for example stored in the database DB aresequentially displayed on the display 13 of the own terminal system TS.The user operates corresponding keys on the operator section 12 to enternumbers indicative of these pieces of information and then executes arequest decision operation. The selection information indicative of theinformation to be downloaded and the identification informationindicative of the model and serial number of the own terminal system TSand the type of the tone generator installed in the tone generator 24 ofthe terminal system TS are sent to the server station BS.

[0136] In response to the request information received from the terminalsystem TS, the server station BS starts a selective reading module (B1)to selectively read the music information and so on corresponding to therequest information from the database DB. A judgement module (not shown)determines a format type of the read performance information. In detail,the judgement module may check contents of format type information(indicative of format type of the information) attached the readinformation so as to recognize the format type. Otherwise, in case thatthe format type information is not attached, the judgement module maydetermine the format type from contents of the read information. As aconsequence of the determination, in the case of own model format A, theread performance information and so on need not be format-converted, sothat they are passed directly to a charging module (B2). If the formatof the read performance information and so on differs from own modelformat as with the case of conventional-model format B, the readperformance information and so on are passed to the charging module (B2)through a configuration information attaching module (B3) and a formatconverting module (B4).

[0137] If the performance information having a format other than the ownmodel format has no configuration information as with conventional-modelformat B for example, the configuration information attaching module(B3) attaches configuration information to that performance information.This configuration information attachment allows the performanceinformation for another model having no configuration information to beeffectively reproduced with timbre/effect imparted by making the most ofthe tone generator capabilities in the terminal system TS. Theconfiguration information is attached in one of the following manners:

[0138] (1) predetermined configuration information is attached;

[0139] (2) user-selected configuration information is attached; and

[0140] (3) configuration information fitting to performance informationis automatically detected and attached.

[0141] The performance information attached with configurationinformation is passed to the format converting module (B4). The formatconversion module converts the performance information to own modelformat A by use of a conversion table TB prepared before. Thisconversion table TB is prepared for each combination of formats beforeand after format conversion. For example, this table describes aconversion rule for conversion from conventional-model format B into ownmodel format A, thereby converting the format of the performanceinformation from the format of another model (B) into own model formatA.

[0142] The format of another model includes SMF format C not shown inFIG. 9 in addition to conventional-model format B. For example, wheninformation having SMF format C is read, it is format-converted by useof the conversion rule for conversion from SMF format C to own modelformat A stored in the conversion table TB. Therefore, if the requestedinformation has a format of another model (B or C for example), suchinformation is format-converted into the music information IA that canbe sounded in the own terminal system TS, becoming available therein.

[0143] In case of a conversion from SMF format to the own format A, itis possible to carry out information compression in similar manner by aninformation compression module (P4) of FIG. 10 (as will be describedlater) prior to the format type conversion described here.

[0144] Then, the charging module (B2) executes a charging operation onthe downloaded information. This charging operation may be adapted todiscount billing amount when the terminal is recognized as a particularmodel or having a particular tone generator under a particular contractwith the server station for example by referencing the identificationinformation (including the model and serial number of the terminal andthe type of tone generator) received from the terminal system TS.

[0145] When the charging operation has been completed, the serverstation BS starts an information transmission module (B5) to send themusic information and configuration information having own model formatA corresponding to the select information to the terminal system TS.

[0146] When these music information and configuration information havebeen supplied from the server station BS, the terminal system TS startsan information receive module (S2) to receive and download the musicinformation and the configuration information through thereceiver/transmitter 6. The downloaded information is stored in the mainRAM 3. It should be noted that, during a period from requesting theinformation by the request information send module (S1) to thecompletion of supply of the requested information from the base stationBS, the terminal system TS may be in a talking state. Alternatively,talking may be cleared once after sending of the request information andthe requested information may be received by subsequent talk processing(by electronic mail or return talk from the base station BS).

[0147] Then, a setting module (S3) executes, as specified by the user,settings such that the melodious ringing tone can be sounded on thebasis of the received music information. The setting module may alsoexecute settings such that the received information is reproduced as BGMduring talk or music to be played any time.

[0148] It may be expedient that the received music information orconfiguration information may be automatically set to the ringing melodyor BGM sound immediately after the receipt of the information.Otherwise, at the time of the receipt, a music corresponding to thereceived information may be reproduced to confirm contents of thereceived information.

[0149] In the above-described system, the base station BS conductsattachment of configuration information, format conversion andinformation compression for the music information, performanceinformation and configuration information. Alternatively, the terminalsystem TS may conduct these configuration information attachment, formattype conversion and information compression as will be described laterin conjunction with FIG. 11.

[0150] Information transfer with personal computer:

[0151] Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown a functional block diagramillustrating a relationship of information transfer between theabove-mentioned terminal system and a personal computer practiced as oneembodiment of the invention, which constitute a second system. In thisinvention, the own terminal namely the portable telephone terminalsystem TS receives and uses the music information and configurationinformation created on the personal computer terminal PC. These musicinformation and configuration information can be created in any format.For example, for ease of operation, these pieces of information may becreated according to the conventional SMF format. If a format other thanown model format A is used like this, format conversion into own modelformat A is executed by the personal computer PC at transmission.

[0152] In the personal computer terminal PC, a selective reading module(P1) selects, by use of installed predetermined software, the musicinformation and configuration information to be used as melodiousringing tone or BGM from the database DB in the computer terminal PC inwhich the information is recorded in SMF format C or own model format A.An information edit module (P2) can edit the selected music informationand configuration information. In editing, timbre and effect parametersin the configuration information are changed or added, portions for useas melodious ringing tone or BGM are selectively extracted from theperformance information in the music information, and “trial sounding”is executed in a timbre and effect setting condition in which theselected music information is sounded in the same setting as theterminal system TS, namely on the basis of compressed configurationinformation.

[0153] Further, the database DP of the personal computer terminal PC maystore the conventional format B of FIG. 6 other than the SMF format Cand the own format A. In such a case, information associated to theconventional format may be also subjected to the similar editing as wellas the attachment of the configuration information, the informationcompression and the format conversion as shown in FIG. 9.

[0154] As for newly creating music information on the personal computerterminal PC, new music information manually inputted by the user iscreated by a newly creating module (P3) by use of sequencer software(music information creating software) having conventional SMF formatinstalled in the computer terminal PC for example. The new musicinformation created here is music information compliant with SMF formatC for example.

[0155] The newly creating module (P3) can also create new musicinformation automatically by use of automatic composing software (ordevice). In this case, a conventional automatic composing program ordevice may be applied to execute jobs such as extracting only a part ofmusic (a bridge for example) in a desired section from the musicinformation for one piece of music created by conventional automaticcomposing software and/or automatic composing device, extracting onlythe information of minimum necessary tracks (melody track, harmonytrack, and so on) from the music information made up of plural tracks,and correcting joints (start and end positions of a section) so as toproperly join the pieces of the extracted information when it isrepeatedly reproduced. It should be noted that the newly creating module(P3) may also create the music information equivalent to melodiousringing tone and BGM in own model format A directly.

[0156] Of the information read and/or edited by the information editmodule (P2) and the information newly created by the newly creatingmodule (P3), the information having a format (for example SMF format C)other than own module format A is compressed by an informationcompressing module (P4) and format-converted by a format convertingmodule (P5). On the other hand, the information having own model formatA is directly passed to an information sending module (P6).

[0157] The information having a format other than own model format A isfirst compressed by the information compressing module (P4) by use of apredetermined compression table TE so as to be stored in the terminalsystem TS. This compression table TE is prepared for each combination offormats before and after compression and describes a predeterminedcompression rule. Specific processing based on this compression ruleincludes deletion of the above-mentioned unnecessary information such asthe excess information in the rate scale RS and the EG parameter EC ofSMF format C (refer to FIG. 7) at conversion into own model format A,extraction of the performance information of necessary tracks (melodytrack and harmony track only for example) from the performanceinformation made up of plural tracks or parts, deletion of ornamentsfrom the performance information, and changing of the pitch bend data inperformance information in terms of pitch.

[0158] The compressed information is format-converted from SMF format Cfor example into own model format A by the format converting module (P5)by use of a conversion table TC as by the format converting module (B4)in the embodiment (the first system) shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0159] The music information and/or configuration information suppliedfrom the modules (P2 and P3) originally having own model format A andthose supplied from the module (P5) compressed and converted into ownmodel format A are sent to the terminal system TS through theinformation sending module (P6) to be captured in the terminal system TSthrough the communication cable 20 and the communication I/F 10.

[0160] In the terminal system TS, an information receiving module (T1)receives the music information and the configuration informationsupplied from the personal computer terminal PC and stores them into themain RAM 3. Then, a setting module (T2) makes a setting, as specified bya user operation, so as to sound melodious ringing tone and BGM on thebasis of the received music information.

[0161] The processing by this information receiving module (T1) and thesetting module (T2) may be similar to that executed by the informationreceiving module (S2) and the setting module (S3) of FIG. 8.

[0162] In the above-described construction, the personal computerterminal PC conducts editing of the music information, performanceinformation and configuration information. Otherwise, the terminalsystem Ts may perform editing of information received from the personalcomputer terminal PS in similar manner by means of informationrecord/edit module (U5) of FIG. 11 as will be described later.

[0163] Further, it will be expedient that the information stored in theterminal system TS is transmitted to the personal computer terminalthrough a communication cable 20, and the personal computer terminal mayedit the transmitted information based on the above-described manner.

[0164] Information transfer between recording medium and anotherterminal:

[0165] Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown a functional block diagramillustrating a relationship of information transfer between theabove-mentioned terminal system and a recording medium and/or otherterminals, which constitute a third system. In this invention, the ownterminal namely the portable telephone terminal system TS can use, forcreating melodious ringing tone or BGM, the information supplied fromthe external recording medium 19 or telephone terminal OSa or OSb of thesame and/or different model as the own terminal. In this case,information compression, format conversion, and information editing canbe executed in the own terminal system TS.

[0166] Processes such as information compression, format conversion andinformation edit may be carried out by other telephone terminals (Usa,Usb) to form information of the own format A instead of the terminalsystem as will be described net in detail. Thereafter, the formedinformation may be received by the terminal system TS.

[0167] Music information, performance information, and configurationinformation are recorded beforehand on the detachable small-sizerecording medium 19 in own model format A or another format (forexample, format B or C). The recording medium 18 is then loaded on theown terminal system TS and desired information (attached withinformation indicative of a format of the information) is read throughthe connecting circuit 9. Each information is attached with formant typeinformation indicating the format type of each information. The user canread desired information by operating a predetermined switch arranged onthe operator section 12 of the own terminal system TS.

[0168] Information supplied from another telephone terminal OSa iscaptured in the own terminal system TS via the base station BS over thetelephone line through the receiver/transmitter 6. Information suppliedfrom still another telephone terminal OSb is captured in the ownterminal system TS over the communication cable 20 through thecommunication I/F 10. These telephone terminals OSa and OSb may use theinformation of the same format, namely own model format A, or of adifferent format such as conventional-model format B or SMF format C.

[0169] With regard to the transmission from other telephone terminals(Osa, Osb), there are available two methods. In one method, commandoperation is carried out in the own terminal system TS to requesttransmission of desired information to other telephone terminals (Osa,Osb). In another method, command operation is carried out in othertelephone terminals (Osam Osb) to request receipt of desired informationto the own terminal system TS.

[0170] When sending information from the telephone terminal OSa or OSb,information indicative of the format of the information to be sent(formant type information) is attached thereto. It should be noted thatthe telephone terminal OSa or OSb may be adapted to request thereceiving terminal or the own terminal system TS to set and use thereceived information real-time (namely, the received information isimmediately set and used in the own terminal system TS). When sendinginformation through the base station BS, the base station may be adaptedto compress and format-convert the information to be sent to thereceiving terminal (the own terminal) in manner similar to the case ofFIGS. 9 and 10.

[0171] An information receiving/reading module (U1) reads musicinformation, performance information, and configuration information fromthe external recording medium 19 or captures these pieces of informationfrom the telephone terminals OSa and OSb as described above. Thejudgement module (not shown in the figure) determines the format type ofthe read or taken information in manner similar to the process describedin conjunction with select/read module (B1) of FIG. 9. Of the read orreceived pieces of information, the information havingconventional-model format B or SMF format C is compressed andformat-converted through a line of a configuration information attachingmodule (U2), an information compressing module (U3), and a formatconverting module (U4). The compressed and format-converted informationis then passed to an information recording/editing module (U5). Theinformation having own model format A is directly passed to theinformation recording/editing module (U5).

[0172] Basically, the configuration information attaching module (U2),the information compressing module (U3), and the format convertingmodule (U4) execute the same processing as executed by the configurationinformation attaching module (B3), the information compressing module(P4), and the format converting modules (B4 and P5) in the embodiment(the first system) shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and the embodiment (the secondsystem) shown in FIG. 10. The configuration information attachingprocessing by the configuration information attaching module (U2) isexecuted only on the information having no configuration information aswith the information of conventional-model format B. These informationcompressing and format-converting processing operations are executedeither after the entire information is received and written to thememory (the main unit memory RAM 3) of the own terminal system TS orreal-time while the information is being received, only the necessaryinformation being stored in the memory (the main RAM 3). The lattermethod is effective for portable telephone terminals having a relativelysmall size of memory.

[0173] The information passed to the information record/edit module (U5)is stored in the main RAM 3 of the own terminal system. Thereafter, theinformation can be edited by means of various switches of the operationcontrols 12. The editing jobs include addition, deletion, and changingof various parameters contained in the configuration information SA.Further, this module (U5) allows to newly create music information.Then, the setting module (U6) makes a setting by a controller 12, asspecified by a user operation, so as to sound melodious ringing tone andBGM on the basis of the received music information.

[0174] [Own terminal processing in the own terminal system]

[0175] Referring to FIG. 12, there is shown one example of own terminalprocessing flow in the above-mentioned terminal system. This ownterminal processing is executed in the own terminal system TS in thecase of the embodiment (the first system) shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, theembodiment (the second system) shown in FIG. 10, and the embodiment (thethird system) shown in FIG. 11. First, in step TR1, the own terminalsystem TS is initialized when its power is turned on. To be morespecific, a predetermined melodious ringing tone is set, initialparameters are set to the tone generators 24 and 36 and the effectors 25and 37, and other initialization processing operations associated withthe portable telephone terminal are executed. After completion of theinitialization, the processing routines of steps TR2 through TR6 aresequentially executed.

[0176] Step TR2 is a send processing routine in which various pieces ofinformation involved in a normal talking operation are sent and, in thecase of the embodiment (the first system) shown in FIGS. 8 and 9,selection information and identification information are sent asrequired. In the embodiments of FIGS. 10 and 11, (the first and secondsystems), processes are carried out such as transmission of requestinformation requesting desired information. Step TR3 is a receiveprocessing routine in which the received information is analyzed andvarious processing operations are executed accordingly, making thereceiving information available as melodious ringing tone or BGM.Further, regular processes are carried out such as receipt confirmationfor call request in the portable telephone terminal. In this step, inthe case of the embodiment (the first system) shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 andthe embodiment (the second system) shown in FIG. 10, the receivedinformation is written to the main RAM 3; in the case of the embodiment(the third system) shown in FIG. 11, the received information isattached with configuration information, compressed, andformat-converted, the resultant information being stored in the main RAM3.

[0177] Step TR4 is a select/set processing routine in which the useroperates a predetermined switch in the operator section 12 to select theinformation for use as melodious ringing tone or BGM from theinformation stored beforehand in the main ROM 2 of the own terminalsystem TS or the received information stored in the main RAM 3. In thiscase, if the selected information includes performance information, itis read and set so that it becomes available as melodious ringing musictone information or BGM information. If the selected informationincludes configuration information, various settings are executedaccordingly. For example, timbre parameter PT is set in the tonegenerators 24 and 36, effect parameter PE is set in the effectors 25 and37, effector programs are changed by an effect program (DSP program) fordetermining the contents of the effectors 25 and 37, and settingsassociated with audio information and video information are made.

[0178] In the case of the embodiment (the first system) shown in FIGS. 8and 9, the user operates a predetermined switch on the operator section12 to select the information to be downloaded. In the case of theembodiment (the third system) shown in FIG. 11, in step TR4, the useroperates a predetermined switch on the operator section 12 to readdesired information from the external recording medium 19.

[0179] Step TR5 is an edit processing routine in which, in the case ofthe embodiment (the third system) shown in FIG. 11, information editingprocessing or information newly creating processing is executedaccording to the operation of a predetermined switch on the operatorsection 12.

[0180] This terminal system TS may be provided with an automaticcomposing capabilities. In this case, automatic composing operations areexecuted as another processing operation by another processing routinein step TR6. The automatic composing capabilities include:

[0181] (1) automatically converting a melody entered by the user throughthe microphone into performance (music) information;

[0182] (2) selecting an atmosphere for example of music by operating apredetermined switch on the operator section 12 to automatically createperformance (music) information corresponding to the selectingoperation; and

[0183] (3) automatically create the performance information associatedwith a chord fitting the performance information already created orstored.

[0184] This terminal system TS may also be provided with a stylereproducing capability for recording plural pieces of style informationand performance information beforehand and joining them to reproduce asa piece of music. In this case, the style reproducing operation isexecuted by another processing routine in step TR6. In addition, stepTR6 may be provided with a music game capability for executing a musicgame to be played only on the own model or in communication with anothermodel.

[0185] The processing routines of steps TR2 through TR6 are repeatedunless a power-off sequence is detected in step TR7 (namely, unless theterminal system TS is powered off). Upon detection of the power-offsequence, this own terminal processing is ended.

[0186] Server processing in the base station:

[0187] Referring to FIG. 13, there is shown one example of a serverprocessing flow in the above-mentioned base station. This serverprocessing is executed in the base station (server station) BS in thecase of the embodiment (the first system) shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and theembodiment (the third system) shown in FIG. 11. First, in step BR1,predetermined initialization processing is executed. Then, in steps BR2through BR4, processing routines are sequentially executed.

[0188] In a receive processing routine of step BR2, the followingprocessing operations (1) through (4) are executed in the case of theembodiment (the first system) shown in FIGS. 8 and 9:

[0189] (1) talk processing for responding a talk from the terminalsystem TS for requesting downloading;

[0190] (2) receive processing for receiving selection information andidentification information from the terminal system TS at responding thetalk;

[0191] (3) selectively reading processing (the selectively readingmodule B1) for selectively reading the information to be sent to theterminal system TS according to the received selection information andconfiguration information attaching processing (the configurationinformation attaching module B3) and format converting processing (theformat converting module B4), the latter two being executed as required;and

[0192] (4) charging processing (the charging module B2) to be executedaccording to the received identification information.

[0193] In the case of the embodiment (the third system) shown in FIG.11, the receive processing routine of step BR2 executes via processingassociated with the information transfer between the terminals OSa andTS as a via means for use in sending information from the telephoneterminal OSa to the receiver/transmitter 6 of the terminal system TS viatelephone line. In this via processing, the format conversion processingis executed as required.

[0194] In the case of the embodiment (the first system) shown in FIGS. 8and 9, the send processing routine of step BR3 sends the informationread from the database DB in the server station BS and format-convertedinto own model format A as required to the terminal system TS. Atsending, other pieces of information such as charging information may beattached to this information. In the case of the embodiment (the thirdsystem) shown in FIG. 11, the send processing routine sends theinformation received from the terminal system TS to another telephoneterminal OSa and the information selected by the terminal system TScontained in the database DB in the server station BS to the telephoneterminal OSa.

[0195] The processing routine of step BR4 can also send only part ofmusic information, performance information, and configurationinformation to answer a request from the terminal system TS. Forexample, this routine can send only the information associated withtimbre in the configuration information without sending theeffect-associated information. This routine also allows trial listeningof music information for example by streaming transmission (real-timereproduction) of information.

[0196] In streaming transmission, music information is so reproducedthat each reproduced event is packeted in real time, or that pluralevents close in time to one another are packeted in a batch togetherwith time difference information among the events. These packets arethen sent from the server BS to the terminal system TS by streamingtransmission. The terminal system TS receives the transmitted packets,temporarily stores them in the main RAM 3 or FIFO 22, and reproducesmusic based on the music information stored.

[0197] The processing routines of steps BR2 through BR4 are repeatedunless a power-off sequence of the server station BS is detected in stepBR5. Upon detection of the power-off sequence, this server processing isended.

[0198] PC terminal processing in personal computer:

[0199] Referring to FIG. 14, there is shown one example of PC terminalprocessing flow in the above-mentioned personal computer. This PCterminal processing is executed in the personal computer terminal PC inthe case of the embodiment (the second system) shown in FIG. 10. First,a predetermined initialization processing is executed in step PR1. Then,the processing routines of steps PR2 through PR6 are sequentiallyexecuted.

[0200] The select processing routine of step PR2 selects musicinformation and configuration information to be used for melodiousringing tone or BGM from a database PD in the personal computer terminalPC in which the information is recorded in SMF format C or own modelformat A (the selective reading module P1).

[0201] The new creation processing routine of step PR3 newly createsmusic information compliant with SMF format C or own model format A byuse of conventional sequencer software, music information creatingsoftware, and automatic composing software (device) for example (thenewly creating module P3).

[0202] The edit processing routine of step PR4 edits the selected musicinformation and configuration information (the editing module P2). Thesend processing routine of step PR 5 executes information compression,format conversion, and information sending (the information compressingmodule, the format converting module, and the information sending moduleP4 through P6).

[0203] Further, the other processing routine of step PR6 attaches otherinformation to the configuration information SA. The information to beattached here includes an effect program (DSP program) for determiningthe contents of the effector, audio information, and video information.

[0204] The processing routines of steps PR2 through PR6 are repeatedunless a power-off sequence of the personal computer terminal PC isdetected in step PR7. Upon detection of the power-off sequence, this PCterminal processing is ended.

[0205] [Exemplary uses of audio information and video information]

[0206] As described, the present invention uses audio information andvideo information as the configuration information other thanmusic-associated information. For example, audio information is of WAVE,AIFF, SOUND VQ, or MP3 for example depending on how the audioinformation is compressed. The present invention allows commonformatting to capture the audio information having these formats and,along with the creation of tone signals based on music information,create audio signals for guidance.

[0207] Video information may be used to display an icon representativeof the other party at call termination therefrom and synchronize theicon with the reproduction of the melodious ringing tone or sequentiallydisplay musical notes corresponding to tone signals, for example.

[0208] [Karaoke capabilities]

[0209] In the portable terminal apparatus practiced as one embodiment ofthe invention, the system may be put in a so-called “karaoke” mode torealize a karaoke capability by which words of a song are sequentiallydisplayed in synchronization with the performance of that song, the usersigning to the reproduced music by following the words running on thedisplay. To make the portable telephone terminal (the terminal system)TS execute the karaoke capability, the controls of the operator section12 (refer to FIG. 1) are used as a karaoke mode select switch and akaraoke song select switch for example. In this case, the switchesdedicated to karaoke may be provided or any of the existing switches maybe diverted to control the karaoke capability. For example, every timethe karaoke mode select switch is operated, the karaoke mode and thenon-karaoke mode may be switched between. When the karaoke mode is set,the numeric keys for inputting telephone numbers may be used to selectkaraoke songs.

[0210] In the karaoke mode, the music information for karaoke ispreferably used. The karaoke music information has performance data andwords data in performance information, which are recorded in the mainROM (the internal memory) along with other music information beforehand.Alternatively, the karaoke music information may be received from thedetachable small-size recording medium 19, the personal computerterminal PC, other telephone terminals, the base station BS, or otherexternal devices to be stored in the main RAM (the internal memory). Inthe karaoke mode, the music information thus recorded is processed bythe karaoke processing capability of the main CPU 1, the configurationinformation and the performance data included in the processed musicinformation being supplied to the sounding controller 8. The resultantmusic performance output is sounded from the speaker 17 or a headphonewhile the karaoke words are displayed on the display 13 of the terminalsystem TS on the basis of the words information included in the musicinformation.

[0211] Example of music information format:

[0212] Referring to FIG. 15, there is shown an example of a musicinformation format usable in the karaoke mode in the portable terminalapparatus. Music information IK applicable to the karaoke mode for onesong compliant to own model format A is composed of configurationinformation SK and performance information MK, the latter being composedof performance data PK and words data WK. The configuration informationSK includes timbre information CK including timbre number and timbreparameter and effect information EK including effect parameter andeffect program, like the above-mentioned configuration information SA.The configuration information SK has a text flag TF as otherinformation, the text flag TF being indicative that the words data WKare recorded in the performance information MK. It should be noted thatthe information to be recorded as the performance data PK and the wordsdata WK is preferably the information in one interval (for example, aportion of bridge) of one song.

[0213] The performance data PK indicative of music progression areequivalent in content to the above-described performance information MA,which is the information recording timing data PT and performance eventPE in the order of performance and ending with end data EP. Theperformance event PE is a collection of key numbers and gate times. Thewords data WK indicate the words for the performance data (a song)included in the performance information IK and record, in the sequenceof music progression, timing data WT indicative of display timing andtext event data WE indicative of the words to be displayed, ending withend data EW. The timing data WT included in the words data WK aresynchronized with the timing data PT included in the performance data PKso that each text event WE is displayed in synchronization with musicperformance.

[0214] Like the above-described music information IA, IB, and IC, themusic information involving words data may be one received from theoutside. When receiving the music information from the outside, not onlythe performance data (the music progression data) but also the wordsdata are compressed and format-converted into the words data WK for ownmodel as with the above-mentioned embodiments. Consequently, thereceived music information is stored in the form of the musicinformation IK compliant to the above-mentioned own model format A.

[0215] Referring to FIG. 16, there is shown a functional block diagramillustrating synchronization between music performance and words displayin the terminal system practiced as one embodiment of the invention.Various pieces of information are recorded in the internal memory (themain ROM 2) beforehand as shown in an internal memory block KB1 or maybe received from the base station BS, another terminal OS, the personalcomputer PC, the storage medium 19, or other external devices to berecorded in the other internal memory (the main RAM 3). The internalmemory stores the music information in an information recording formcompliant to own model format A. When receiving the music informationfrom the outside, if the received music information is not compliant toown model format A, the received music information is converted into theinformation recording format of own model format A before being storedin the internal memory as described above.

[0216] Desired music information is selected from the various pieces ofinformation stored in the internal memory (KB1). If the selected musicInformation has words data WK, the selected music information isseparated in an information separation block KB2 into performance dataPK and words data WK, which are passed to a data controller block KB3along with a control command. In doing so, on the basis of the timingdata PT of the performance data PK, the performance event PE is sent toa route to the tone generator 24 or 36 (refer to FIGS. 2 and 3) of thesounding controller 8 and, on the basis of the timing data WT of thewords data WK, the text event WE is sent to a route to the displaycircuit 5 (refer to FIG. 1).

[0217] The controller block KB3 controls the sending of the informationpassed from the information separation block KB2 in accordance with thecontrol command. To be more specific, if the control command specifiesthe reproduction of a melodious ringing tone, only the performance eventPE is sent to a tone generator block KB4; if the control commandspecifies the display of words (the karaoke capability), the performanceevent PE and the text event WE (or only the text event WE) are sent tothe tone generator block KB4 and a display circuit block KB5respectively. Then, the tone generator block KB4 and the display circuitblock KB5 are driven by the received performance event PE and thereceived text event WE respectively, executing music performance andwords display.

[0218] Receive processing 1:

[0219] Referring to FIG. 17, there is shown a flowchart of “receiveprocessing 1” which is an example of the receive processing (step TR3shown in FIG. 12) in the terminal system according to the invention. Thereceive processing 1 can instruct the start of reproducing a melodiousringing tone upon request from another terminal for talk even if theterminal system TS is operating in one of the various modes includingthe karaoke mode.

[0220] In step KR11, which corresponds to talk request acknowledgeprocessing in the normal portable telephony, the main CPU 1 determineswhether there is a request to talk from another terminal. If the requestto talk is found, the CPU 1 displays information thereof in step KR12and goes to step KR13. If there is no request to talk, the CPU 1 endsthis receive processing 1. The displaying of the information indicativethat there is a request to talk in step KR12 is made by displaying arequest-to-talk icon on the display 13 or flashing the already displayedrequest-to-talk icon. This prevents a melodious ringing tone fromsounding while the user is looking at karaoke words for example.

[0221] In step KR13, the CPU 1 sets a RUN flag indicative of a ringingmelody music reproduced state to “1” and, in step KR14, resets thecurrent data read operation to forcibly pause the current mode beforeentering the talk mode, setting the reading of ringing melody music. Forexample, if the current mode is the karaoke mode, the CPU 1 resets thereading of the performance data PK and the words data WK and, beforeentering the talk mode, erases the currently displayed words and mutingthe currently reproduced music, forcibly pausing the current mode. Itshould be noted that the current mode may be forcibly ended beforeentering the talk mode. On the other hand, as for the ringing melodymusic, the CPU 1 executes necessary settings on the basis of theconfiguration information in the music information selected as themelodious ringing tone and sets the data read position to the beginningof the performance data.

[0222] Other processing 1:

[0223] Referring to FIG. 18, there is shown a flowchart of “otherprocessing 1” which is an example of the other processing (step TR6shown in FIG. 12) in the terminal system according to the invention. Theother processing 1 can instruct the end of the ringing melody musicreproduction in response to the operation made by the user for startingtalking. In step KR21, which corresponds to the talk start processing inthe normal portable telephony, the CPU 1 determines whether the systemis ready for entering the talk mode. If the system is found ready, thenthe CPU 1 goes to step KR22 to set the RUN flag to “0” to reset thereproduction of the ringing melody music; if the system is not ready,the CPU 1 ends the other processing 1.

[0224] Selection/setting processing 1:

[0225] Referring to FIG. 19, there is shown a flowchart of“selection/setting processing 1” which is an example of the receiveprocessing (step TR4 shown in FIG. 12) in the terminal system accordingto the invention. This selection/setting processing 1 can allows theuser to start the karaoke mode by operating the karaoke mode selectswitch on the operator section 12 of the portable telephone terminal(the terminal system) TS. When starting of the karaoke mode isinstructed by this processing, the reproduction of music and the displayof karaoke song words (text) start.

[0226] In step KR31, the CPU 1 determines whether the karaoke mode hasbeen set by the operation of the karaoke mode select switch. If thekaraoke mode is found set by the karaoke select switch, the CPU 1 goesto step KR32; otherwise the CPU 1 ends the selection/setting processing1 immediately. In step KR32, the use selects a song to be reproducedfrom the internal ROM. In this case, if the words data for the selectedsong are not found in its music information, information thereof isdisplayed. If no song selection is executed, the CPU 1 sets the musicinformation currently set as a melodious ringing tone as the selectedmusic.

[0227] In step KR33, the CPU 1 resets the reading of the currently useddata to pause the current mode. In step KR34, the CPU 1 inverts aKARAOKE flag indicative of the karaoke mode, thereby ending thisselection/setting processing 1. When the KARAOKE flag is set to “1”, itindicates that the karaoke mode is on; when this flag is set to “0”, itindicates that the karaoke mode is off.

[0228] If, in step KR32, the KARAOKE flag is “0” and the karaoke mode isready to be set but no words data are found in the music information ofthe selected karaoke song to be reproduced (this is detected by checkingthe text flag TF), the CPU 1 sets the KARAOKE flag from “0” to “1” toexecute only music performance or cancels the karaoke mode withoutinverting the KARAOKE flag.

[0229] Interrupt processing 1:

[0230] Referring to FIG. 20, there is shown a flowchart of “interruptprocessing 1” which is an example of the interrupt processing in theterminal system according to the invention. The interrupt processing 1is executed on the main processing in the portable telephone terminal(the terminal system) TS of own model and caused at every clock timingof the timer. In step KR41, the CPU 1 determines whether the RUN flag is“1”; if the RUN flag is found “1”, the CPU 1 goes to next step KR42.

[0231] In step KR42, the CPU 1 sequentially sends performance events tothe tone generators 24 or 36 (refer to FIGS. 2 and 3, KB4 shown in FIG.16) on the basis of the performance data to sound a corresponding tone.To be more specific, when the RUN flag is “1”, it indicates that amelodious ringing tone is being reproduced, in which music reproductionis executed in accordance with the performance data of the musicinformation selected as the melodious ringing tone, at the time of arequest to talk or sounding a request-to-talk voice. In this case, theprogression timing of the music is counted by another interruptprocessing operation. It should be noted that, during sounding of themelodious ringing tone, the setting of the karaoke mode (the KARAOKEflag=“1”) is ignored and the words display by the display circuit 5(refer to FIG. 1, KB5 shown in FIG. 16) is automatically prevented fromprogressing.

[0232] On the other hand, if the RUN flag is found “0” in step KR41, theCPU 1 goes to step KR43 to determine whether the KARAOKE flag is “1”. Ifthe KARAOKE flag is found “1”, the CPU 1 goes to step KR44; otherwise,the CPU 1 ends this interrupt processing 1.

[0233] In step KR44, the CPU 1 sequentially sends text events to thedisplay circuit 5 (refer to KB5) on the basis of the words data to sounda corresponding tone and goes to step KR42. To be more specific, whenthe RUN flag is “0” (the melodious ringing tone not reproduced) and theKARAOKE flag is “1”, it indicates that the karaoke mode is on. In stepKR44, the CPU 1 displays words in accordance with the words data WK ofthe selected karaoke song. In step KR45, the CPU 1 reproduces the songin accordance with the performance data PK of the selected karaoke song.Therefore, when the RUN flag is “0” and the KARAOKE flag is “1”, theprocessing operations in both steps KR44 and KR45 allow the CPU 1 tosynchronously execute music reproduction and words display in accordancewith the performance data PK and words data WK of the selected karaokesong.

[0234] Namely, as for the performance data PK, the timing data PT andthe performance event PE recorded in the order of performance aresequentially read to reproduce music. As for the words data WK, thetiming data WT and the text event data WE recorded in the order ofdisplay are sequentially read to display words. At this moment, thetiming data WT indicative of display timing are synchronized with thetiming data PT, so that the display of words may be varied insynchronization with music performance. Preferably, the highlighting ofwords display in this terminal system is easier than the color wiping ofcharacter display in ordinary karaoke machines. For example, suchhighlighting techniques are preferably used as making brighter, ashatching, or as inverting the words to be pronounced or alreadypronounced of the words of a song currently displayed.

[0235] Various karaoke modes:

[0236] Another karaoke mode may be provided in which only words aredisplayed without reproducing music. In this case, preferably, theprogression of words display may be controlled by the user.

[0237] Still another karaoke mode may be provided in which not only thewords data and performance data for a part of a song but also those foran entire song may be recorded as performance information. In this case,when reproducing a melodious ringing tone, only a predetermined part(for example, the part of bridge) of a song may be reproduced. At thetime of karaoke reproduction, an entire song may be reproduced.

[0238] Yet another karaoke mode may be provided in which only the wordsdata may be recorded for an entire song. In this case, in the karaokereproduction mode (“performance on” mode), only the words correspondingto the performance data may be sequentially displayed. In thewords-display-only mode, the words for the entire song may be displayedon the display in accordance with the user operation.

[0239] Edit capabilities:

[0240] The terminal system practiced as one embodiment of the inventionallows the user to execute various information editing operations by useof the switches on the operator section 12 as described with referenceto the information recording/editing module (U5) shown in FIG. 11 andthe edit processing (refer to TR5) shown in FIG. 12. The followingdescribes some specific examples of the edit processing.

[0241] An edit mode select switch and various edit switches are includedin the operator section 12 (refer to FIG. 1) of the terminal system TS.These switches may be arranged as the switches dedicated to editingoperations or the existing switches may be diverted to the editswitches. For example, every time the edit mode select switch isoperated, edit mode and non-edit mode may be switched between. In theedit mode, the numeric keys for inputting telephone numbers may be usedto select information to be edited or set edit parameters (the numerickey mode may be selected by another key between information selectionand parameter setting).

[0242] Selection/setting processing 2:

[0243] Referring to FIG. 21, there is shown a flowchart of“selection/setting processing 2” which is another example of theselection/setting processing (refer to step TR4 shown in FIG. 12) in theterminal system according to the invention. In step ER11, the CPU 1determines whether the edit mode select switch on the operator section12 of the portable telephone terminal (the terminal system) TS has beenoperated. If the edit mode select switch is found operated, the CPU 1goes to step ER12; otherwise, the CPU 1 immediately exits thisselection/setting processing 2.

[0244] The edit mode select switch is operated to instruct the start andend of the edit mode. Every time this switch is operated, the settingsof an EDIT flag alternate. When the EDIT flag is “1”, it indicates thatthe edit mode is on; when the EDIT flag is “0”, it indicates that theedit mode is off (a non-edit mode is on). Only one mode can be set at atime. For example, if the karaoke mode is on (the KARAOKE flag=“1”) whenthe edit mode select switch is operated, the karaoke mode is forciblyended.

[0245] In step ER12, the CPU 1 inverts the EDIT flag and goes to stepER13. In step ER13, the CPU 1 determines whether the EDIT flag is “0”.If the EDIT flag is found “0” (a non-edit mode is on), the CPU 1 goes tostep ER14 to write the edited contents over the selected information,ending the selection/setting processing 2. If the EDIT flag is found “1”(the edit mode is on), the CPU 1 goes to step ER15. When ending the editmode by the processing of step ER14, the edit contents stored in atemporary storage area in the main RAM 3 can be overwritten for storage.

[0246] In step ER15, the CPU 1 switches the input mode of the numerickeys on the operator section 12 of the terminal system TS to“information selection” side. When the user specifies, by operating thenumeric keys, the information to be edited from among timbreinformation, effect information, performance data, and words data forexample, the specified information is selected. If the user specifies noinformation, the CPU 1 sets as the edit information the timbreinformation or performance data of a song set as a melodious ringingtone. In next step ER16, the CPU 1 displays a part (for example, thestart of the song) of the selected (or set) information on the display13, ending the selection/setting processing 2.

[0247] Edit processing 1:

[0248] Referring to FIG. 22, there is shown a flowchart of “editprocessing 1” which is an example of the edit processing (refer to stepTR5 shown in FIG. 12) in the terminal system according to the invention.In step ER21, the CPU 1 determines whether the EDIT flag is “1”. If theEDIT flag is found “1”, the CPU 1 goes to step ER22 in which the userselects data to be edited. If the EDIT flag is found “0”, the CPU 1immediately exits this edit processing.

[0249] In step ER22, the user operates-the data select switch and so onof the operator section 12 to sequentially change the contents displayedon the display 13, displaying such data values to be edited asparameters, musical notes, and timings. In next step ER23, the userstarts a specific edit operation, in which the user switches the inputmode of the numeric keys for inputting telephone numbers on the operatorsection 12 from “information selection” to “parameter setting”. Here,the user inputs new parameter values, add new data, delete existingdata, or executes other parameter setting operations.

[0250] In step ER24, the CPU 1 stores the edited contents in thetemporary area of the main RAM 3 and goes to step ER25. It should benoted that the temporary stored edited contents are written over theactual data at the end of the edit mode. However, this overwriting maybe executed during the edit mode.

[0251] In step ER25, the CPU 1 determines whether the RUN flag is “1”.If the RUN flag is found “1” (the melodious ringing tone beingreproduced), then the CPU 1 sets the EDIT flag to “0” in step ER26 andgoes to step ER27; otherwise (the RUN flag=“0”, the melodious ringingtone not being reproduced), the CPU 1 ends the edit processing 1. Instep ER27, the CPU 1 determines whether to overwrite the editedcontents. If the edit contents are to be overwritten, the CPU goes tostep ER28 to execute the overwriting and then ends the edit processing1. Otherwise, the CPU 1 immediately ends the edit processing 1.

[0252] If a request to talk comes during the edit mode, the edit mode isforcibly ended. Whether the edited contents made so far are to bepreserved or not is left to the discretion of the user in step ER28. Forexample, the display 13 shows a prompt for overwriting or preservation.In this case, a YES/NO operating switch on the operator section 12 maybe used for the selection between overwriting and preservation.Preferably, while this prompt is displayed, the CPU 1 does not start themelodious ringing tone sounding processing.

[0253] As described with the receive processing 1 (refer to FIG. 17,step KR12), when a request to talk comes during edit mode (or othermodes), the icon indicative that the request to talk has come is shownon the display 13. In this case, a melodious ringing tone may be madesound instead of showing the icon. However, the sounding may startle theuser, so that it is preferable to inform the user of the request to talkby icon.

[0254] It should be noted that the edit mode not only can edit alreadystored information but also can newly create and store information suchas timbre information, effect information, and words data.

[0255] Voice composing capability:

[0256] In the terminal system according to one embodiment of theinvention, music information can be created from the voice inputted inthe terminal system as mentioned as the first example of the automaticcomposing capability in the other processing (refer to FIG. 13, stepTR6). The following describes the voice composing capability. Referringto FIG. 23, there is shown a functional block diagram illustrating thevoice composing capability of the terminal system according to oneembodiment of the invention. The processing for realizing the voicecomposing capability illustrated by this functional block diagram isbasically executed as instructed by the main CPU 1. This processing mayalternatively be executed by the CPU of the sounding controller like theCPU 31 of the sounding controller 8 shown in FIG. 3.

[0257] An input module CA1 comprises a microphone input block CA11 forcapturing a voice (or a singing voice) inputted from the microphone 14(refer to FIG. 1) of the portable telephone terminal (the terminalsystem) TS (refer to FIG. 1) and a talk voice input block CA12 forcapturing a talk voice (a singing voice of the other party on thetelephone) received through the receiver/transmitter 6, capturing themicrophone input voice or the talk input voice as a data source.

[0258] An input selector module CA2 selects between the microphone inputvoice and the talk input voice as the data source when the user operatesthe numeric key for input telephone numbers on the operator section 12.An A/D converting module CA3 converts the format of a data source inputvoice from analog to digital.

[0259] A noise level setting module CA4 sets the level of a noiseincluded in the data source voice supplied from the input module CA1 bymeans of the following processing:

[0260] (1) A prompt for waiting before input is shown on the display 13for example, asking the user to wait a predetermined duration of timebefore inputting his or her voice into the microphone or inputting thetalk voice. During this wait time (soundless time), the sound inputtedin the input module is detected as noise (the noise detectioncapability).

[0261] (2) The maximum level of the detected noise is set as a noiselevel (the maximum noise level) (the setting capability).

[0262] When the above-mentioned processing has been completed, the noiselevel setting module CA4 shows a prompt for input on the display 13 forexample, asking the user for inputting his or her voice through themicrophone or inputting the talk voice. A noise canceling module CA5deletes the voice information below the maximum noise level set by thenoise level setting module CA4 from the data source input voiceconverted into digital format by the A/D converting module CA3.

[0263] A pitch detecting module CA6 extracts a pitch sequence from thenoise-deleted data source input. The pitch sequence is extracted byfrequency analysis for example. In addition, in order to reduce the sizeof information to be recorded, if generation of plural sounds within apredetermined time is recognized, the sounds following the beginningsound are all deleted. To be more specific, a shortest sound provides apredetermined duration (for example, an eighth note) and the soundsshorter than this predetermined duration are all deleted. If the pitchsequence is found not reaching a predetermined interval, it ispreferable to arrange a transposing capability for totally transposingthe detected pitch sequence up to the predetermined interval. Such atransposing capability can automatically convert a low-interval inputsound into an interval at which the input sounds becomes available as amelodious ringing tone.

[0264] A data creating module CA7 converts the pitch sequence detectedby the pitch detecting module CA6 into the information corresponding toown model format A and stores the resultant information in the main RAM4 or the sound control RAM 35.

[0265] Automatic composing capability 1:

[0266] In the system according to one embodiment of the invention, anautomatic composing capability can be realized as described withreference to the newly creating module (P3 shown in FIG. 10) on thepersonal computer PC side. Referring to FIG. 24, there is shown afunctional block diagram illustrating the voice composing capabilityaccording to one embodiment of the invention. The processing forrealizing the automatic composing capability shown in this functionalblock diagram is basically executed by the personal computer terminal PC(P3 shown in FIG. 10). It will be apparent that this automatic composingcapability may be installed on the terminal system TS.

[0267] A manual input module CB1 allows the user to input (or create)music information in the following manner by use of a conventionalsequencer (or a personal computer having a sequencer) for example:

[0268] (1) Inputting music information by playing the electronic musicalinstrument connected to the sequencer.

[0269] (2) Creating music information by inputting numerals for exampleby use of a keyboard and/or a mouse connected to the personal computerterminal PC by looking at the input screen on the display deviceconnected to the PC.

[0270] (3) Creating the music information for one piece of music bycoupling plural pieces of prepared partial music data (pattern data).

[0271] On the other hand, in an automatic composing module CD2, the userinputs partial data for a piece of music to be composed. This input ismade by actually playing the electronic musical instrument or by use ofthe display screen of the personal computer terminal PC. Plural piecesof partial music data (pattern data) may be prepared in the personalcomputer terminal PC for selecting the data for composing music. Afterinputting the partial music data as described above, the musicinformation for one piece of music is automatically created by use of aknown automatic music creating technique.

[0272] The music information created by the manual input module CB1 orthe automatic composing module CB2 or the music information stored inthe personal computer terminal PC is inputted in a music analysis moduleCB3. The music analysis module CB3 analyzes the inputted musicinformation in order to divide the music information for one piece ofmusic into musical sections such as an introduction part, a fill-inpart, a main part, and an ending part for example.

[0273] A sectioning module CB4 divides the music information into pluralpieces of sectional information on the basis of the analysis resultprovided by the music analysis module CB3. A section selecting moduleCB5 automatically selects one of the plural pieces of sectionalinformation for use as a melodious ringing tone or BGM. For thisselection, the plural pieces of sectional information may be displayedon the screen to allow the user to listen to each piece on a trialbasis.

[0274] In a track selecting module CB6, if a selection piece ofsectional information is made up of plural tracks (or parts), the numberof these tracks is narrowed down to a minimum. For example, if there areplural parts which are played in a similar timbre, only one of them isused, the information about the other being deleted.

[0275] In a repetition correcting module CB7, if a certain piece ofsectional information completed with the processing operations up to andincluding the track selecting processing (CB6) is reproduced repeatedly,a tone at the start of that section or a tone at the end of the section(or a tone in proximity) is corrected so that the tone at the start ofthe section and the tone at the end of the section are linked smoothly.Lastly, an information recording module CB8 stores the created sectionalinformation into the storage area (RAM) of the personal computerterminal PC and outputs it to the information compressing module P4shown in FIG. 10.

[0276] Automatic creation of music data (automatic composingprocessing):

[0277] In a system practiced as one embodiment of the invention, theterminal system TS or personal computer terminal PC can automaticallycreate music data. This allows automatic composing capabilities to berealized as described in other processing in its own TS terminal (FIG.12: step TR6), or in new creation processing in the PC terminal (FIG.10: newly creating module P3; FIG. 14: step PR3). FIG. 25 is a flowchartschematically illustrating a method of automatically creating music datain the potable terminal apparatus practiced as one embodiment of theinvention. This method allows music data adapted to user preferencessuch as atmospheres to be automatically created in the potable terminalsystem TS. The automatic creation processing of music data (automaticcomposing processing) as shown in the processing flow is executed in theterminal system TS, but it may be executed in the personal computerterminal PC, or it can be applied to the automatic composing module CB2shown in FIG. 24.

[0278] In the method, shown in FIG. 25, for automatically creating musicdata adapted to user preferences in the potable terminal system TS,plural kinds of melody creating data and code progressing data areprestored for each feeling of music in the main ROM 2 or main RAM 3. Themelody creating data and chord progress data may be received from theserver BS through the receiver/transmitter 6, or from an external devicethrough the communication interface 10, or it may be downloaded from thedetachable small-size recording medium 19 through the connecting circuit9.

[0279] According to the automatic creation processing of music data, apair of melody creating data and chord progress data is selected (forexample at random) from the plural kinds of melody creating data andchord progress data for the feeling selected by the user. On the basisof these data, and according to user preferences, music data are somodified that a melody is automatically created. The process toautomatically create a piece of music such as a melody is disclosed indetail in a patent application (Japanese patent application No.11-019625) filed by the same applicant as that of this application, sothe following gives only an outline of the process.

[0280] Expressions of feelings of music can include “fresh,” “soft,”“lonely,” “sexy,” and so on. Each feeling corresponds to plural kinds ofmelody creating data and chord progress data. From among the pluralkinds of these data corresponding to the feeling selected, a piece ofmelody creating data and a piece of chord progress data are selected atrandom, respectively. It should be noted that a specific pair of melodycreating data and chord progress data may correspond to each feeling.The melody creating data consist of rhythm creating data and pitchcreating data. The rhythm creating data include data pieces indicativeof the number of notes (high, moderate, low in number), types of time,the presence of syncopation, the number of bars and a periodconfiguration. The pitch creating data include data pieces indicative ofan absolute range of audio frequencies, and pitch variations at apredetermined interval. The chord progress data store therein dataindicative of the progression of chords for a piece of music (forexample, for 32 bars).

[0281] Upon automatic creation of music, melody creating data and chordprogress data are read out in the first step CC1 of the processing flowshown in FIG. 25. Thus, plural kinds of words and/or icons indicative offeelings of music are displayed on the display 13 for example inresponse to user's operations (see a middle column in FIG. 26 that showsan example of a display screen for setting parameters associated withautomatic composition). When the user selects his or her favoritefeeling on the operator section 12, a selected pair of melody creatingdata and chord progress data is read out.

[0282] In the next step CC2, rhythm data are created on the basis of themelody creating data read out in step CC1. To be more specific, rhythmdata (also called “striking point data” that define positions at whichnotes exist) for a motif composed of a few bars (e.g., the top or climaxparts of the music) on the basis of the rhythm creating data included inthe melody creating data read out. Then, from the motif created and theabove-mentioned data pieces such as the period configuration data,rhythm data for a piece of music are created. In creating rhythm datafor a piece of music, a method may be used in which period marks are soreflected that periods bearing the same mark are made identical inrhythm to corresponding periods. In this method, periods bearing similarmarks are made identical in rhythm in part (for example, in the firsthalf) to corresponding periods.

[0283] Creation of motif rhythm data is started in response to operationof a predetermined switch on the operator section 12 (which may be adedicated switch or a switch commonly used for other functions). Increating a motif, a rhythm pattern adapted to the rhythm creating datais typically selected from a number of rhythm patterns (striking pointpatterns) prestored.

[0284] When there are two or more rhythm patterns adapted to the rhythmcreating data, any one can be selected at random, or a rhythm patternmay be selected in consideration of the above-mentioned feelings orgenres specified separately. Further, the motif rhythm data are notnecessarily created automatically. For example, the user may directlyenter rhythm data on the operator section 12, or edit the rhythm dataautomatically created. Alternatively, as discussed above, a notesequence extracted from a voice input from the microphone or a voiceinput during talking may be used as rhythm data.

[0285] Then, in step CC3, significant striking points are detected fromall the striking points of the rhythm data created. The term“significant striking point” means musically important striking pointsin all striking points of a melody. As an example, on-beats, that is,the first and third beats in each bar, or striking points near the firstand third beats are detected as significant striking points. The otherstriking points are detected as insignificant striking points. However,the significant striking points are not limited to the on-beats or theneighborhood striking points, and they may be detected according toother conditions.

[0286] On the other hand, in step CC4, skeletal tones of the motifcomposed of a few bars are created on the basis of the melody creatingdata and chord progress data. Then, skeletal tones for a piece of musicare created by referring to the skeletal tones of the motif and themusic configuration data. The skeletal tones of the motif are selectedat random as being chord component tones having pitches that meetrequirements for the above-mentioned range of audio frequencies andpitch variations. However, this selection is not necessarily carried outat random; it may follow a predetermined rule.

[0287] In step CC5, the skeletal tones created in step CC4 are assignedto the significant striking points detected in step CC3. Then, in stepCC6, a pitch is assigned to the insignificant striking point between thesignificant striking points. To be more specific, a pitch on a scale ofavailable notes for a corresponding chord tone is assigned at random tothe insignificant striking point. However, this assignment is notnecessarily carried out at random; it may follow a predetermined rule.Upon formation of the skeletal tones for a piece of music and the pitchof the insignificant striking point, period marks are reflected in thesame manner as in the process of the above-mentioned rhythm creation. Inother words, periods bearing the same mark are made identical in pitchto corresponding periods, while periods with similar marks are madeidentical in pitch in part (for example, in the fist half) tocorresponding periods.

[0288] The music data thus created are automatically corrected in stepCC7 according to a musical rule separately stored so that created tonesare not sounded unnaturally. Then, the music data are stored in the mainRAM 3 in step CC8, and the automatic composing processing is ended.

[0289] It should be noted that the user may use the operator section 12to modify the pitches of the significant striking points automaticallycreated and/or the pitches of the insignificant striking points.Portions in which pitches can be modified may be the motif part or thewhole music. Further, in the above description, pitches are giventhroughout the music after the rhythm data for the whole music arecreated, but pitches of the motif may be given after the rhythm data ofthe motif are created. In this case, after the rhythm data of thefollowing portions of the music are created, pitches are given to thefollowing portions.

[0290] In addition, the above-mentioned method of automatically creatingmusic data is to create only the melody part, but accompaniment partsmay be automatically created. For example, plural kinds of accompanimentcreating data (also called “style data” that are performance data forone or more bars created in one or more parts along predetermined chordtypes) are prestored in the main ROM 2 or main RAM 3. Then,accompaniment data selected by the user on the operator section 12, ormade correspondent to a music style selected at random are read out andmodified on the basis of the chord progress data so that pitch dataincluded in the accompaniment data match the chord progress data. Theabove-mentioned operations are repeated for a piece of music (forexample, for 32 bars) to crate the accompaniment parts. Expressions ofmusical styles include “urbane,” “rural,” “tropical,” “danceable,” andso on (see the right column in FIG. 26).

[0291] Chord detection and accompaniment part assignment:

[0292] In one embodiment of the invention, as described as one ofautomatic composing capabilities (FIG. 12: “other processing” in stepTR6), the terminal system TS can automatically create performanceinformation fitting the performance information already created andstored. FIG. 27 is a schematic flowchart explaining a “method ofautomatically deciding chords (the progression of chords) fitting themusic data (chord detection processing)” executed in the portableterminal apparatus practiced as one embodiment of the invention. FIG. 28is a schematic flowchart explaining a “method of assigning accompanimentparts fitting melody data to the melody data (accompaniment partassigning processing)” executed in the portable terminal apparatuspracticed as one embodiment of the invention. The chords (theprogression of chords) decided in the chord detection processing of FIG.27 can be used for automatic assignment of accompaniments executed inthe accompaniment part assigning processing.

[0293] In the chord detection processing of FIG. 27, melody data aredivided in step CD1 into sections according to a predetermined rule. Onesection divided here is a section in which a chord is consideredcontinuous. The predetermined rule may be the one that divides themelody data into constant sections for example by bar. Alternatively,the rule may be the one that analyzes the arrangement and order of themelody data to detect a range of one section in which a chord isconsidered continuous so as to divide the melody data at the detectedpositions. In these cases, plural rules may be used at the same time.

[0294] In step CD2, a harmony tone is detected in each melody sectiondivided. The detection of the harmony tone is carried out by analyzingthe arrangement and order of the melody data to detect a tone that isconsidered to be a harmony tone in each section. Then, in step CD3, themelody is analyzed to detect a key. For example, matching is madebetween the number of appearances of each tone name in the melody (whichmay be simply the number of tone names, or the value of each tone nameplus its tone length) and a scale tone of each key. As a result, a keythe matching degree of which is the highest is detected as the key ofthe melody.

[0295] Then, in step CD4, on the basis of the detected harmony tone andthe detected key, matching is made with chords or the progression ofchords for every two or more consecutive sections of the melody, or forevery section. To be more specific, the progression of chords typicallyfound in consecutive sections (for example, four, three or two sections)is stored for each key in a database. Then, the harmony tones detectedin the consecutive sections are compared with component tones in theprogression of chords in the detected key. At first, the chords inprogress over four sections are compared with the harmony tones in thefour sections. If a chord matches a harmony tone, the matching isdecided. If there is no cord matched, the number of sections is reducedto three sections, and chords in progress over three sections arecompared with harmony tones in the three sections. If there is no chordmatched in the three sections, matching is made for two sections. If nochord matched yet, individual harmony component tones are compared withchords in a section, a chord the matching degree of which is the highestis decided.

[0296] In step CD5, as a result of the matching processing, aprogression of chords or a chord the matching degree of which is thehighest is decided to be the cord in the section or sections concerned,and then, the chord detection processing is ended. Each key, however,does not always have the progression of chords. If only a specific keyhas the progression of chords, tone names of component tones in theprogression of chords may be shifted according to keynotes of the key sothat the progression of chords will be held substantially in the wholekey.

[0297] In the accompaniment assigning processing of FIG. 28,accompaniment parts are created on the basis of the progression ofchords fitting the melody data and the style data prestored. The styledata are performance data of one or more parts from which theaccompaniment parts are originated. The performance data include anumber of performance data for one or more bars created on the basis ofa predetermined chord, for example, C major, and stored in the database.The progression of chords fitting the melody data can be achieved by theabove-mentioned various methods. The methods include detection from themelody, pre-storage in the melody data, and user specification to themelody. The melody data including the chord progression may bedownloaded from the base station (server) BS.

[0298] In the accompaniment assigning processing, the user selects anyone of a number of accompaniment data stored. Each piece ofaccompaniment style data bears a corresponding term (for example, a termindicative of a musical genre such as pop or classical music, or anatmosphere such as “bright” or “dark”). A list of these terms aredisplayed on the display 13 of the portable terminal apparatus TS sothat any term can be selected on the operator section 12 to selectcorresponding accompaniment style data. Alternatively, a number assignedto each accompaniment style data may be selected by use of numericalswitches on the operator section 12.

[0299] In step CE2, the selected accompaniment style data are read outfrom the database. In the following step CE3, a progression of chords isacquired. Further, in step CE4, the pitch of performance data includedin the accompaniment style data read out is modified according to theprogression of chords acquired in step CE3 to create performance datafor the accompaniment parts. The pitch of the performance data ismodified by use of a pitch conversion table provided for each type ofchord. The pitch conversion table is a table that defines how much thepitch of the performance data should be modified according to the typeof chord. The pitch of the performance data is shifted by an amount ofmodification defined in the table so that a pitch matching the specifiedtype of chord can be obtained.

[0300] Then, in step CE5, the performance data for the accompanimentparts created in step CE4 are assigned to the melody data to create amelody composed of two or more parts. After that, the accompanimentassigning processing is ended.

[0301] The accompaniment style data may be composed of two or moresections so that the progression of sections can be specified. Forexample, the sections for the accompaniment data can include anintroductory section, a main section, a fill-in section, and an endingsection. The arrangement and order of the sections, or the number ofrepetitions the main section is reproduced can be specified by the useraccording to the progression of the melody data. Alternatively, sectionprogress data in which the arrangement and order of the sections or thenumber of repetitions the main section is reproduced are programmed maybe prestored. In this case, the section progress data are read out alongthe progression of the melody data to specify the progression ofsections. Thus, performance of accompaniment parts rich in variation canbe obtained.

[0302] [Various other embodiments]

[0303] The format of the music tone information usable on the portableterminal apparatus is not limited to own model format A. For example,the sounding controller as shown in FIG. 3 may be installed on theportable terminal apparatus to operate, in this circuit, the automaticperformance capability (the sequencer) used in conventional electronicmusical instruments, thereby reproducing the music information havingSMF format C without change. This eliminates the necessity for executingthe format conversion when capturing the information from other musicinformation generating apparatus (for example, a personal computer) intothis portable telephone terminal. It should be noted that, in this case,the information is compressed preferably.

[0304] In the above-mentioned embodiments, FM is used for the tonesynthesizing in the tone generator. It will be apparent that the tonesynthesizing is not limited to FM. For example, any of wavetable,physical model, harmonics synthesis, formant synthesis, and“VCO+VCF+VGA” analog synthesis are also applicable. Namely, varioustypes of information associated with timbres recorded as configurationinformation depend on the tone synthesizing scheme used in the tonegenerator. Basically, however, various types of parameter informationcorresponding to the tone synthesizing schemes conventionally used inelectronic musical instruments may be employed.

[0305] The tone generator itself may be constituted by not onlydedicated hardware but also “DSP+microprogram” or “CPU+software”combination.

[0306] Further, plural sounding channels may be formed by using onecircuit in a time-division manner or one channel may form one circuit.

[0307] As mentioned above and according to the invention, a portableterminal apparatus capable of sounding tones has a sounding controlapparatus that is given a timbre to be set on the basis oftimbre-associated configuration information to generate a tone signalcorresponding to performance information and impart an effect to be seton the basis of effect-associated configuration information to thegenerated tone signal. Consequently, two or more tones can be sounded ata time by use of an FM tone generator for example, providing rich andvarious ringing melodies, BGM during talking, and music at any timedesired.

[0308] Control means (CPU), which operates independently of the portableterminal apparatus, is used to generate a tone signal having apredetermined timbre and imparted with a predetermined effect.Consequently, tone signal generation processing can be executed withrelatively high degree of freedom without being restricted by thecontrol of the portable terminal apparatus main.

[0309] A tone signal imparted with a predetermined timbre and/or effectcorresponding to configuration information included in music toneinformation is generated on the basis of the music tone information and,at the same time, an audio signal and a video signal are generated onthe basis of audio information and video information. Consequently, theuser can enjoy the reproduced tone in various modes supported by theaudio and video signals. In addition, according to the storage size ofthe storage means used, tone signals are generated by use of music toneinformation described in a format which is downsized as compared with ageneral-purpose music tone information format. Consequently, qualitytones can be reproduced within the maximum allowable range of the dataprocessing and storage capacities of the portable terminal apparatuswithout weighing upon the memory of the apparatus.

[0310] A music tone information service system is formed by portableterminal apparatus and the base station (server) having a music toneinformation source. According to the selection information sent from anyof the portable terminal apparatus, the base station selectscorresponding music tone information from the music tone informationsource. The base station imparts configuration information indicative ofa timbre and/or an effect to be imparted to a tone which is sounded inthe portable terminal apparatus. On the basis of the music toneinformation imparted with the configuration information, the portableterminal apparatus generates a tone signal imparted with thepredetermined timbre and/or effect. Consequently, rich and various tonescan be provided by effective use of the server database. In addition,this system charging processing is executed to the portable terminalapparatus that sent the selection information, thereby providingappropriate services to the users of particular portable terminalapparatus.

[0311] Music tone information is shared by a music tone informationprocessing apparatus based on a personal computer or an intelligentelectronic musical instrument. Music tone information of a desiredformat is created or edited in the music tone information processingapparatus to compress the created or edited music tone information intoa size suitable for the portable terminal apparatus. Therefore, thenovel constitution facilitates the setting, editing, and creation oftimbres and effect of the music tone information suitable for thecapacity of the portable terminal apparatus.

[0312] Music tone information stored in music tone information sourcessuch as external recording media and telephone terminals is captured inthe portable terminal apparatus for editing. Consequently, music toneinformation of various forms can be processed into the music toneinformation suitable for the capacity of the portable terminal apparatusor user preferences.

[0313] Further, as described and according to the invention, performanceinformation and words information corresponding to the progression ofperformance are stored beforehand. Tone signals are sequentiallygenerated on the basis of the stored performance information. Wordsindicative signals corresponding to the generated tone signals aregenerated on the basis of the words information. Consequently, portableterminal apparatuses such as a portable telephone can provide a karaokecapability. The user can not only sing to the portable telephonefunctioning as a karaoke machine but also remember karaoke song words bydisplaying them on the portable telephone for singing practice ifdesired. In addition, the first performance information, the secondperformance information, and the words information corresponding to thesecond performance information may be stored beforehand. On the basis ofthe second performance information, a second tone signal is generatedand, on the basis of the words information, a words indicative signalcorresponding to the second tone signal is generated for karaokereproduction. A first tone signal based on the first performanceinformation is generated before karaoke reproduction. Consequently,karaoke reproduction may be automatically switched to ringing melodyreproduction based on the first tone signal and without making thedisplay of the karaoke song words intervene this automatic switching.

[0314] As described above, according to the invention associated withchanging a tempo, the potable terminal apparatus allows the user tospecify a tempo on the operator section of the portable terminalapparatus (main unit) by use of at least one of parameters associatedwith changing a tempo. The parameters include an absolute value of thetempo, a word indicative of the tempo, a rate of change from a referencetempo, and an intuitive word. Thus, the user can control the performancetempo of sounding music such as a ringing melody or BGM.

[0315] Still further, according to the invention associated withautomatic composition, the portable terminal apparatus can selectivelyset an atmosphere of music to automatically create music information, orit allows the user to input part of music data so as to automaticallycreate music information for a piece of music from the partial data.

[0316] According to the invention associated with pitch detection, whena pitch sequence is extracted from an input tone to crate musicinformation, the portable terminal apparatus can arbitrarily selecteither a tone input from a microphone or a tone input during talking, ortranspose the detected pitch sequence as required.

[0317] According to the invention associated with chord detection, theportable terminal apparatus can automatically create performanceinformation associated with the chord fitting the music information.

[0318] According to the invention associated with style reproduction,the portable terminal apparatus can store plural kinds of styleinformation and performance information and join them to reproduce apiece of music.

[0319] According to the invention associated with format conversion, themusic tone information service system and the base station can convertat the base station (server) music information for other models orgeneral-purpose music information incompatible with the first formatinto music information of the first format for its own model. Also, upontransmission of information associated with the terminal (identificationinformation) from the terminal to the base station server, formatconversion can be performed at the server on the basis of theinformation concerned. Further, the portable terminal apparatus canperform format conversion in its own terminal apparatus from musicinformation for other models or general-purpose music informationincompatible with the first format into music information of the firstformat for its own model.

[0320] According to the invention associated with trial listening, themusic tone information service system and the base station can performstreaming transmission of information from the server to realizereal-time trial listening on the portable terminal apparatus side.

[0321] According to the invention, the portable terminal apparatus iscapable of mounting a detachable small-size recording medium; it cantake in music information from the recording medium into the terminalsystem, or write music information from various information sources intothe recording medium.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sound control apparatus provided in a portableterminal for sounding a music tone in association with operation of theportable terminal, comprising: a storage section that stores musicinformation representing a music tone and configuration informationassociated to a timbre of the music tone; an information acquiringsection that acquires the music information and the configurationinformation from the storage section; and a tone generating section thatis configured by the acquired configuration information to create atimbre specified by the configuration information, and that operatesaccording to the acquired music information to generate the music tonebeing represented by the music information and having the specifiedtimbre.
 2. The sound control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thestorage section has a limited capacity such as to store the musicinformation in a compact format which is downsized from a non-compactformat of the music information before storage of the music information.3. The sound control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the storagesection stores the music information in a compact format which isdownsized from a non-compact format of a standard MIDI file.
 4. Thesound control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storagesection stores the music information and the configuration information,which are downloaded from a base station having a database of the musicinformation and the configuration information.
 5. The sound controlapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage section stores themusic information and the configuration information, which are retrievedfrom a personal computer having a source of the music information andthe configuration information.
 6. The sound control apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the storage section stores the music information andthe configuration information, which are transmitted from anotherportable terminal.
 7. The sound control apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the storage section stores the music information and theconfiguration information, which are loaded from a memory mediumattachable to the portable terminal.
 8. The sound control apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the tone generating section is configuredto create different timbres and is operated to concurrently generate aplurality of music tones having the different timbres.
 9. The soundcontrol apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a connectorthat is detachably connectable to a memory medium memorizing the musicinformation and the configuration information.
 10. The sound controlapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the portable terminal has anaudio controller for controlling a talking voice exchanged during theoperation of telecommunication, the sound control apparatus furthercomprising a mixer that mixes the talking voice passed from the audiocontroller and the music tone generated by the tone generator sectionwith each other.
 11. A sound control apparatus provided in a portableterminal for sounding a music tone in association with operation of theportable terminal, comprising: a storage section that stores musicinformation representing a music tone and configuration informationassociated to a timbre and an effect of the music tone; an informationacquiring section that acquires the music information and theconfiguration information from the storage section; a tone generatingsection that is configured by the acquired configuration information tocreate a timbre specified by the configuration information, and thatoperates according to the acquired music information to generate themusic tone being represented by the music information and having thespecified timbre; and an effector section that is configured by theconfiguration information for applying an effect specified by theconfiguration information to the generated music tone.
 12. A soundcontrol apparatus provided in a portable terminal for sounding a musictone in association with operation of the portable terminal, which isexecuted by a first processor, the sound control apparatus comprising: amemory that memorizes music information representing a music tone andconfiguration information associated to a timbre of the music tone; aninformation acquiring section that acquires the music information andthe configuration information from the memory; a tone generating sectionthat is configured by the acquired configuration information to create atimbre specified by the configuration information, and that operatesaccording to the acquired music information to generate the music tonebeing represented by the music information and having the specifiedtimbre; and a second processor provided separately from the firstprocessor for controlling the memory, the information acquiring sectionand the tone generating section.
 13. The sound control apparatusaccording to claim 12, wherein the first processor comprises a main CPUof the portable terminal, and the second processor comprises a dedicatedCPU for processing the music information and the configurationinformation.
 14. The sound control apparatus according to claim 12,wherein the portable terminal has a system bus, the sound controlapparatus further comprising a communication interface connectable tothe system bus such that the memory can receive the music informationtransmitted from an external source through the system bus and thecommunication interface.
 15. The sound control apparatus according toclaim 12, wherein the portable terminal has input controls for inputtinga command, the sound control apparatus further comprises an edit sectionoperative according to the command from the input controls for editingthe music information stored in the memory.
 16. The sound controlapparatus according to claim 12, wherein the portable terminal has anaudio controller for controlling a talking voice exchanged during theoperation of telecommunication, the sound control apparatus furthercomprising a communication interface connectable to the audio controllerfor receiving the talking voice so that the second processor can processthe talking voice.
 17. The sound control apparatus according to claim16, wherein the second processor can process the talking voice to applythereto a desired acoustic effect.
 18. The sound control apparatusaccording to claim 16, wherein the second processor can process thetalking voice to modify a pitch and a timbre of the talking voice. 19.The sound control apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising atimer for periodically generating a timing signal effective to control agenerating timing of the music tone so as to determine a performancetempo of the generated music tone, the timing signal being manuallysettable to control the performance tempo.
 20. The sound controlapparatus according to claim 12, further comprising another memory forstoring a conversion table used for converting a format of the musicinformation.
 21. The sound control apparatus according to claim 12,further comprising another memory for storing a compression table usedfor compressing the music information stored in the memory.
 22. Thesound control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the portableterminal has an audio controller for controlling a talking voiceexchanged during the operation of telecommunication, the sound controlapparatus further comprising a communication interface connectable tothe audio controller, and a mixer that mixes the talking voice passedfrom the audio controller through the communication interface with themusic tone generated by the tone generator section.
 23. The soundcontrol apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the memory has alimited capacity such as to store the music information in a compactformat which is downsized from a non-compact format of the musicinformation before storage of the music information.
 24. The soundcontrol apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the memory stores themusic information in a compact format which is downsized from anon-compact format of a standard MIDI file.
 25. The sound controlapparatus according to claim 12, wherein the memory stores the musicinformation and the configuration information, which are downloaded froma base station having a database of the music information and theconfiguration information.
 26. The sound control apparatus according toclaim 12, wherein the memory stores the music information and theconfiguration information, which are retrieved from a personal computerhaving a source of the music information and the configurationinformation.
 27. The sound control apparatus according to claim 12,wherein the memory stores the music information and the configurationinformation, which are transmitted from another portable terminal. 28.The sound control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the memorystores the music information and the configuration information, whichare loaded from a recording medium attachable to the portable terminal.29. The sound control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the tonegenerating section is configured to create different timbres and isoperated to concurrently generate a plurality of music tones having thedifferent timbres.
 30. A sound control apparatus provided in a portableterminal for sounding a music tone in association with operation of theportable terminal, which is executed by a first processor, the soundcontrol apparatus comprising: a memory that memorizes music informationrepresenting a music tone and configuration information associated to atimbre and an effect of the music tone; an information acquiring sectionthat acquires the music information and the configuration informationfrom the memory; a tone generating section that is configured by theacquired configuration information to create a timbre and an effectspecified by the configuration information, and that operates accordingto the acquired music information to generate the music tone beingrepresented by the music information and having the specified timbre andthe effect; and a second processor provided separately from the firstprocessor for controlling the memory, the information acquiring sectionand the tone generating section.
 31. The sound control apparatusaccording to claim 30, wherein the portable terminal has an audiocontroller for controlling a talking voice exchanged during theoperation of telecommunication, the sound control apparatus furthercomprising a communication interface connectable to the audiocontroller, an effector that applies the effect applied to the musictone according to the configuration information and applies an effect tothe talking voice received from the audio controller through thecommunication interface, and a mixer that mixes the talking voiceapplied with the effect and the music tone also applied with the effect.32. A portable terminal apparatus comprising: a communication devicethat transmits and receives various information; a memory that storesvarious information including music information representative of amusic tone, configuration information associated to a timbre of themusic tone, and voice information representative of a speech voice; asound control device that is configured according to the configurationinformation for generating the music tone according to the musicinformation with the timbre specified by the configuration information;and an audio device that processes the voice information stored in thememory for reproducing the speech voice represented by the voiceinformation.
 33. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 32,wherein the memory has a limited capacity such as to store the musicinformation in a compact format which is downsized from a non-compactformat of the music information before storage of the music information.34. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 33, wherein thememory stores the music information in a compact format which isdownsized from a non-compact format of a standard MIDI file.
 35. Aportable terminal apparatus comprising: a communication device thattransmits and receives various information; a memory that stores variousinformation including music information representative of a music tone,configuration information associated to a timbre of the music tone, andpicture information representative of a visual image; a sound controldevice that is configured according to the configuration information forgenerating the music tone according to the music information with thetimbre specified by the configuration information; and a video devicethat processes the picture information stored in the memory forreproducing the visual image represented by the picture information. 36.The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 35, wherein thememory has a limited capacity such as to store the music information ina compact format which is downsized from a non-compact format of themusic information before storage of the music information.
 37. Theportable terminal apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the memorystores the music information in a compact format which is downsized froma non-compact format of a standard MIDI file.
 38. A portable terminalapparatus comprising: a communication device that transmits and receivesvarious information; a memory that stores various information includingmusic information representative of a music tone, configurationinformation associated to a timbre and an effect of the music tone,voice information representative of a speech voice, and pictureinformation representative of a visual image; a sound control devicethat is configured according to the configuration information forgenerating the music tone according to the music information with thetimbre and the effect specified by the configuration information; anaudio device that processes the voice information stored in the memoryfor reproducing the speech voice represented by the voice information;and a video device that processes the picture information stored in thememory for reproducing the visual image represented by the pictureinformation.
 39. A system designed for dealing with music information,and comprised of a portable terminal having a capability of generating amusic tone and a base station having a source of music information,wherein the base station comprises: a selecting section that selectsmusic information from the source in response to request informationtransmitted from the portable terminal, a setting section that sets theselected music information by configuration information effective tospecify a timbre of a music tone determined by the selected musicinformation; and a transmitting section that transmits the selectedmusic information together with the configuration information to theportable terminal, and wherein the portable terminal comprises: a memorythat stores the music information transmitted from the base station, anda tone generating section that is configured by the configurationinformation transmitted from the base station and that operates based onthe transmitted music information to generate the music tone having thespecified timbre.
 40. The system according to claim 39, wherein the basestation includes a charging section that charges the portable terminalfor delivery of the selected the music information to the portableterminal.
 41. The system according to claim 40, wherein the portableterminal includes a transmitting section that transmits identificationinformation indicating a type of the portable terminal together with therequest information, and wherein the base station includes a determiningsection that determines the type of the portable terminal according tothe identification information, and a discount control section thatcontrols the charging section to discount a charge if the portableterminal qualifies by the determined type.
 42. The system according toclaim 40, wherein the portable terminal includes a transmitting sectionthat transmits identification information indicating a type of the tonegenerating section equipped in the portable terminal together with therequest information, and wherein the base station includes a determiningsection that determines the type of the tone generator section equippedin the portable terminal according to the identification information,and a discount control section that controls the charging section todiscount a charge if the tone generator section equipped in the portableterminal qualifies by the determined type.
 43. The system according toclaim 39, wherein the memory of the portable terminal has a limitedcapacity such as to store the music information in a compact formatwhich is downsized from a non-compact format of the music informationbefore storage of the music information.
 44. The system according toclaim 43, wherein the memory stores the music information in a compactformat which is downsized from a non-compact format of a standard MIDIfile.
 45. The system according to claim 39, wherein the base stationfurther comprises a determining section that determines a format type ofthe selected music information.
 46. The system according to claim 39,wherein the portable terminal further comprises a transmitting sectionthat transmits identification information indicative of a model type ofthe portable terminal together with the request information to the basestation.
 47. The system according to claim 46, wherein the base stationfurther comprises a first determining section that determines a formattype of the selected music information, and a second determining sectionthat operates based on the determined format type of the selected musicinformation and the model type of the portable terminal indicated by thetransmitted identification information for determining whether theselected music information is valid in the portable terminal.
 48. Thesystem according to claim 47, wherein the base station further comprisesa converting section that converts the format type of the selected musicinformation if the second determining section determines that theselected music information is not valid in the portable terminal. 49.The system according to claim 48, wherein the converting sectionconverts the format type of the selected music information by means of aconversion table.
 50. The system according to claim 39, wherein theportable terminal further comprises a transmitting section thattransmits identification information indicative of a model type of thetone generator section equipped in the portable terminal together withthe request information to the base station.
 51. The system according toclaim 50, wherein the base station further comprises a first determiningsection that determines a format type of the selected music information,and a second determining section that operates based on the determinedformat type of the selected music information and the model type of thetone generator section indicated by the transmitted identificationinformation for determining whether the selected music information isvalid in the tone generator section equipped in the portable terminal.52. The system according to claim 51, wherein the base station furthercomprises a converting section that converts the format type of theselected music information if the second determining section determinesthat the selected music information is not valid in the tone generatorsection of the portable terminal.
 53. The system according to claim 52,wherein the converting section converts the format type of the selectedmusic information by means of a conversion table.
 54. The systemaccording to claim 39, wherein the setting section sets the selectedmusic information by configuration information effective to specify apredetermined timbre.
 55. The system according to claim 39, wherein thesetting section sets the selected music information by configurationinformation effective to specify a timbre, which is selected by a usercommand.
 56. The system according to claim 39, wherein the settingsection sets the selected music information by configuration informationeffective to specify a timbre, which is automatically detected accordingto the selected music information.
 57. The system according to claim 39,wherein the portable terminal has a telephony section that can perform atelephony communication, and wherein the transmitting section of thebase station can transmit the configuration information together withthe selected music information at the time of performing the telephonycommunication.
 58. The system according to claim 39, wherein the tonegenerating section operates immediately after the selected musicinformation is transmitted from the base station together with theconfiguration information for generating the music tone having thespecified timbre.
 59. A system designed for dealing with musicinformation, and comprised of a portable terminal having a capability ofgenerating a music tone and a base station having a source of musicinformation, wherein the base station comprises: a selecting sectionthat selects music information from the source in response to requestinformation transmitted from the portable terminal, a setting sectionthat sets the selected music information by configuration informationeffective to specify a timbre and an effect of a music tone determinedby the selected music information; and a transmitting section thattransmits the selected music information together with the configurationinformation to the portable terminal, and wherein the portable terminalcomprises: a memory that stores the music information transmitted fromthe base station, and a tone generating section that is configured bythe configuration information transmitted from the base station and thatoperates based on the transmitted music information to generate themusic tone having the specified timbre and the effect.
 60. A basestation for receiving request information from a portable terminal andfor transmitting music information to the portable terminal in responseto the request information, the base station comprising: a source ofmusic information; a selecting section that selects music informationfrom the source in response to the request information transmitted fromthe portable terminal; a setting section that sets the selected musicinformation by configuration information effective to specify a timbreof a music tone determined by the selected music information; and atransmitting section that transmits the selected music informationtogether with the configuration information to the portable terminal sothat the portable terminal can generate the music tone having thespecified timbre.
 61. The base station according to claim 60, whereinthe base station includes a charging section that charges the portableterminal for delivery of the selected the music information to theportable terminal.
 62. The base station according to claim 61, furthercomprising a receiving section that receives identification informationindicating a type of the portable terminal together with the requestinformation, a determining section that determines the type of theportable terminal according to the identification information, and adiscount control section that controls the charging section to discounta charge if the portable terminal qualifies by the determined type. 63.The base station according to claim 61, wherein the portable terminalincludes a tone generator for generating a music tone, the base stationfurther comprising a receiving section that receives identificationinformation indicating a type of the tone generator equipped in theportable terminal together with the request information, a determiningsection that determines the type of the tone generator equipped in theportable terminal according to the identification information, and adiscount control section that controls the charging section to discounta charge if the tone generator equipped in the portable terminalqualifies by the determined type.
 64. The base station according toclaim 60, wherein the transmitting section downsizes the musicinformation so that a memory of the portable terminal having a limitedcapacity can store the music information in a compact format which isdownsized from a non-compact format of the music information.
 65. Thebase station according to claim 64, wherein the transmitting sectiondownsizes the music information in a compact format from a non-compactformat of a standard MIDI file.
 66. The base station according to claim60, further comprising a determining section that determines a formattype of the selected music information.
 67. The base station accordingto claim 60, wherein the portable terminal further comprises atransmitting section that transmits identification informationindicative of a model type of the portable terminal together with therequest information to the base station, the base station furthercomprising a receiving section for receiving the identificationinformation together with the request information.
 68. The base stationaccording to claim 67, further comprising a first determining sectionthat determines a format type of the selected music information, and asecond determining section that operates based on the determined formattype of the selected music information and the model type of theportable terminal indicated by the received identification informationfor determining whether the selected music information is valid in theportable terminal.
 69. The base station according to claim 68, furthercomprising a converting section that converts the format type of theselected music information if the second determining section determinesthat the selected music information is not valid in the portableterminal.
 70. The base station according to claim 69, wherein theconverting section converts the format type of the selected musicinformation by means of a conversion table.
 71. The base stationaccording to claim 60, wherein the portable terminal has a tonegenerator for generating a music tone, the base station furthercomprising a receiving section that receives identification informationindicative of a model type of the tone generator equipped in theportable terminal together with the request information.
 72. The basestation according to claim 71, further comprising a first determiningsection that determines a format type of the selected music information,and a second determining section that operates based on the determinedformat type of the selected music information and the model type of thetone generator indicated by the received identification information fordetermining whether the selected music information is valid in the tonegenerator equipped in the portable terminal.
 73. The base stationaccording to claim 72, further comprising a converting section thatconverts the format type of the selected music information if the seconddetermining section determines that the selected music information isnot valid in the tone generator of the portable terminal.
 74. The basestation according to claim 73, wherein the converting section convertsthe format type of the selected music information by means of aconversion table.
 75. The base station according to claim 60, whereinthe setting section sets the selected music information by configurationinformation effective to specify a predetermined timbre.
 76. The basestation according to claim 60, wherein the setting section sets theselected music information by configuration information effective tospecify a timbre, which is selected by a user command.
 77. The basestation according to claim 60, wherein the setting section sets theselected music information by configuration information effective tospecify a timbre, which is automatically detected according to theselected music information.
 78. The base station according to claim 60,wherein the portable terminal has a telephony section that can perform atelephony communication, and wherein the transmitting section of thebase station can transmit the configuration information together withthe selected music information at the time of performing the telephonycommunication.
 79. A base station for receiving request information froma portable terminal and for transmitting music information to theportable terminal in response to the request information, the basestation comprising: a source of a plurality of music information; aselecting section that selects music information from the source inresponse to the request information transmitted from the portableterminal; a setting section that sets the selected music information byconfiguration information effective to specify a timbre and an effectapplied to a music tone determined by the selected music information;and a transmitting section that transmits the selected music informationtogether with the configuration information to the portable terminal sothat the portable terminal can generate the music tone having thespecified timbre and the specified effect.
 80. A system comprised of aportable terminal apparatus having a capability of generating a musictone, and a music information processing apparatus capable of creatingand editing music information representative of a music tone, whereinthe music information processing apparatus comprises: a creating andediting section that creates and edits music information; a compressionsection that compresses the music information; and a transmittingsection that transmits the compressed music information to the portableterminal apparatus, and wherein the portable terminal apparatuscomprises: a memory for memorizing the compressed music informationwhich is passed from the music information processing apparatus; and atone generator that operates based on the memorized music information togenerate a musical tone having a timbre specified by the memorized musicinformation.
 81. The system according to claim 80, wherein the creatingand editing section creates and edits music information in a standardMIDI format, and the music information processing apparatus furthercomprises a converting section for converting the music information fromthe standard MIDI format to another format corresponding to the portableterminal apparatus.
 82. The system according to claim 80, wherein themusic information processing apparatus further comprises a tonegenerating section that operates based on the compressed musicinformation to generate a musical tone having a timbre specified by thecompressed music information.
 83. The system according to claim 80,wherein the creating and editing section creates and edits musicinformation having a plurality of timbre parameters for specifying atimbre, and the compression section compresses the music information byremoving at least one timbre parameter.
 84. The system according toclaim 80, wherein the creating and editing section creates and editsmusic information composed of a plurality of tracks, and the compressionsection compresses the music information by extracting a predeterminednumber of the tracks from the music information.
 85. A system comprisedof a portable terminal apparatus having a capability of generating amusic tone, and a music information processing apparatus capable ofcreating and editing music information representative of a music tone,wherein the music information processing apparatus comprises: a creatingand editing section that creates and edits music information; acompression section that compresses the music information; and atransmitting section that transmits the compressed music information tothe portable terminal apparatus, and wherein the portable terminalapparatus comprises: a memory for memorizing the compressed musicinformation which is passed from the music information processingapparatus; and a tone generator that operates based on the memorizedmusic information to generate a musical tone having a predeterminedtimbre and effect.
 86. A music information processing apparatus capableof creating and editing music information representative of a music toneand transmitting the music information to a portable terminal apparatushaving a capability of generating a music tone, the music informationprocessing apparatus comprising: a creating and editing section thatcreates and edits music information; a compression section thatcompresses the music information; and a transmitting section thattransmits the compressed music information to the portable terminalapparatus so that the portable terminal apparatus operates based on thetransmitted music information to generate a music tone having apredetermined timbre.
 87. The music information processing apparatusaccording to claim 86, wherein the creating and editing section createsand edits music information in a standard MIDI format, and furthercomprising a converting section for converting the music informationfrom the standard MIDI format to another format corresponding to theportable terminal apparatus.
 88. The music information processingapparatus according to claim 86, further comprising a tone generatingsection that operates based on the compressed music information togenerate a musical tone having a timbre specified by the compressedmusic information.
 89. The music information processing apparatusaccording to claim 86, wherein the creating and editing section createsand edits music information having a plurality of timbre parameters forspecifying a timbre, and the compression section compresses the musicinformation by removing at least one timbre parameter.
 90. The musicinformation processing apparatus according to claim 86, wherein thecreating and editing section creates and edits music informationcomposed of a plurality of tracks, and the compression sectioncompresses the music information by extracting a predetermined number ofthe tracks from the music information.
 91. A portable terminal apparatushaving a first capability of transmitting and receiving variousinformation including music information, and a second capability ofgenerating a desired music tone according to music information reservedin an information source in association to the first capability, theportable terminal apparatus comprising: a retrieving section thatretrieves music information from the information source; a memorysection that memorizes the retrieved music information; an editingsection that edits the memorized music information; and a tonegenerating section that operates based on the edited music informationto generate a desired music tone having a predetermined timbre.
 92. Theportable terminal apparatus according to claim 91, wherein the memorysection has a limited capacity such as to memorize the music informationin a compact format which is downsized from a non-compact format of themusic information before storage of the music information.
 93. Theportable terminal apparatus according to claim 92, wherein the memorysection memorizes the music information in a compact format which isdownsized from a non-compact format of a standard MIDI file.
 94. Theportable terminal apparatus according to claim 91, wherein theretrieving section retrieves music information from the informationsource composed of a recording medium, which is attachable to theportable terminal apparatus.
 95. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 91, wherein the retrieving section retrieves musicinformation from the information source composed of another portableterminal apparatus.
 96. The portable terminal apparatus according toclaim 95, further comprising a request information generating sectionthat generates request information effective to request said anotherportable terminal apparatus to acquire the music information, and arequest information transmitting section that transmits the generatedrequest information to said another portable terminal apparatus, so thatthe retrieving section can retrieve the music information from theinformation source composed of said another portable terminal.
 97. Theportable terminal apparatus according to claim 95, further comprising arequest information receiving section that receives request informationfrom said another portable terminal apparatus, so that the retrievingsection responds to the received request information to retrieve themusic information from said another portable terminal.
 98. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 91, wherein the retrieving sectionretrieves music information from the information source composed of abase station.
 99. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 91,wherein the retrieving section retrieves music information from theinformation source composed of a personal computer.
 100. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 91, wherein the editing sectionedits the memorized music information by attaching configurationinformation effective to configure the tone generating section.
 101. Theportable terminal apparatus according to claim 91, wherein the editingsection edits the memorized music information by compressing the musicinformation.
 102. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 91,wherein the editing section edits the memorized music information byconverting a format of the music information in corresponding to a typeof the tone generating section.
 103. A portable terminal apparatushaving a first capability of transmitting and receiving variousinformation including music information, and a second capability ofgenerating a desired music tone according to music information reservedin an information source in association to the first capability, theportable terminal apparatus comprising: a retrieving section thatretrieves music information from the information source; a memorysection that memorizes the retrieved music information; an editingsection that edits the memorized music information; and a tonegenerating section that operates based on the edited music informationto generate a desired music tone having a predetermined timbre and apredetermined effect.
 104. A portable terminal apparatus having a tonegenerator and a display monitor for presenting information, comprising:a communication section that is operated to transmit and receive variousinformation; a memory section that stores karaoke information includingmusic information representing a music piece and lyric informationrepresenting words corresponding to the music piece; a sound controlsection that is operated according to the music information forcontrolling the tone generator to generate tones of the music piece; anda display control section that is operated according to the lyricinformation for controlling the display monitor to display the words inparallel to progression of the music piece.
 105. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 104, further comprising an input controloperated to select one music piece from the memory section whichreserves a plurality of music pieces, so that the sound control sectioncontrols the tone generator to generate tones of the selected musicpiece, and the display control section controls the display monitor todisplay the lyric words in parallel to progression of the selected musicpiece.
 106. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 104,wherein the memory section stores karaoke information loaded from anexternal recording medium.
 107. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 104, wherein the memory section stores karaokeinformation received from a personal computer.
 108. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 104, wherein the memory sectionstores karaoke information received from another portable terminalapparatus.
 109. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 104,wherein the memory section stores karaoke information received from abase station.
 110. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim104, wherein the memory section stores karaoke information loaded froman external recording medium.
 111. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 104, wherein the memory section stores karaokeinformation corresponding to a part of one music piece.
 112. Theportable terminal apparatus according to claim 104, wherein the memorysection stores music information composed of a sequence of event datarepresenting tones and timing data determining timings of generatingtones along the progression of the music pieces, and stores lyricinformation composed of a sequence of event data representing words andtiming data determining timings of displaying words along theprogression of the music piece.
 113. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 104, further comprising a separating section thatseparates the karaoke information into the music information and thelyric information, so that the sound control section controls the tonegenerator to generate tones according to the separated musicinformation, and the display control section controls the displaymonitor to display the lyric words according to the separated lyricinformation.
 114. A portable terminal apparatus having a tone generatorand a display monitor, comprising: a communication section that isoperated to exchange a talk voice with a ringing tone; a memory sectionthat stores first music information representing a ringing tone, secondmusic information representing a karaoke music piece, and lyricinformation representing lyric words of the karaoke music piece; a soundcontrol section that is operated according to the second musicinformation for controlling the tone generator to generate tones of thekaraoke music piece; and a display control section that is operatedaccording to the lyric information for controlling the display monitorto display the lyric words in parallel to progression of the karaokemusic piece, wherein the sound control section operates according to acommand from the communication section for controlling the tonegenerator to stop the tones of the music piece and to start the ringingtone.
 115. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 114,wherein the display control section controls the display monitor todisplay an icon for indicating that the tone generator stops the tonesof the karaoke music piece and starts the ringing tone.
 116. Theportable terminal apparatus according to claim 115, wherein the displaycontrol section controls the display monitor to flash the icon.
 117. Theportable terminal apparatus according to claim 114, wherein the displaycontrol section controls the display monitor to stop displaying of thelyric words when the tone generator stops the tones of the karaoke musicpiece and starts the ringing tone.
 118. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 114, wherein the display control section controls thedisplay monitor to variably display the lyric words such as to promptthe progression of the karaoke music piece.
 119. A portable terminalapparatus having a first capability of transmitting and receivingvarious information, and a second capability of generating a music tonein association with the first capability according to music information,the portable terminal apparatus comprising: a memory that memorizes themusic information having a parameter characterizing the music tone; adisplay that displays the parameter; and an editing device that editsthe displayed parameter to modify the music tone.
 120. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 119, further comprising a tonegenerator of a frequency modulation type for generating the music tone.121. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 120, wherein thetone generator is comprised of a digital signal processor operated by amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 122. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 120, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 123. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim119, further comprising a tone generator having a wave-table memorystoring a waveform of the music tone for generating the music tone. 124.The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 123, wherein the tonegenerator is comprised of a digital signal processor operated by amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 125. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 123, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 126. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim119, further comprising a tone generator of a physical modeling type forgenerating the music tone.
 127. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 126, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 128. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 126,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a central processing unitexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 129. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 119, further comprising a tonegenerator constituted by a digital signal processor for executing amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 130. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 119, further comprising a tone generatorconstituted by a central processing unit for executing a software togenerate the music tone.
 131. A portable terminal apparatus having afirst capability of transmitting and receiving various information, anda second capability of generating a music tone in association with thefirst capability according to music information, the portable terminalapparatus comprising: a memory that memorizes the music informationrepresenting the music tone; a tempo designating section that designatesa tempo of the music tone; and a tempo control section that operatesbased on the memorized music information and controls the generating ofthe music tone at the designated tempo.
 132. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 131, further comprising a tone generator ofa frequency modulation type for generating the music tone.
 133. Theportable terminal apparatus according to claim 132, wherein the tonegenerator is comprised of a digital signal processor operated by amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 134. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 132, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 135. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim131, further comprising a tone generator having a wave-table memorystoring a waveform of the music tone for generating the music tone. 136.The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 135, wherein the tonegenerator is comprised of a digital signal processor operated by amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 137. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 135, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 138. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim131, further comprising a tone generator of a physical modeling type forgenerating the music tone.
 139. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 138, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 140. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 138,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a central processing unitexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 141. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 131, further comprising a tonegenerator constituted by a digital signal processor for executing amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 142. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 131, further comprising a tone generatorconstituted by a central processing unit for executing a software togenerate the music tone.
 143. A portable terminal apparatus having afirst capability of transmitting and receiving various information, anda second capability of generating a music tone in association with thefirst capability according to music information, the portable terminalapparatus comprising: a memory that memorizes the music informationrepresenting the music tone; a mood setting section that sets a mood ofthe music tone; and a mood control section that operates based on thememorized music information and controls the generating of the musictone according to the mood set by the mood setting section.
 144. Theportable terminal apparatus according to claim 143, further comprising atone generator of a frequency modulation type for generating the musictone.
 145. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 144,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a digital signal processoroperated by a microprogram to generate the music tone.
 146. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 144, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 147. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim143, further comprising a tone generator having a wave-table memorystoring a waveform of the music tone for generating the music tone. 148.The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 147, wherein the tonegenerator is comprised of a digital signal processor operated by amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 149. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 147, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 150. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim143, further comprising a tone generator of a physical modeling type forgenerating the music tone.
 151. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 150, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 152. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 150,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a central processing unitexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 153. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 143, further comprising a tonegenerator constituted by a digital signal processor for executing amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 154. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 143, further comprising a tone generatorconstituted by a central processing unit for executing a software togenerate the music tone.
 155. A portable terminal apparatus having afirst capability of transmitting and receiving various information, anda second capability of generating a tone of a music piece represented bymusic data in association with the first capability, the portableterminal apparatus comprising: an input device that inputs music datarepresenting a part of the music piece; and an automatic synthesisdevice that automatically synthesize the whole of the music pieceaccording to the inputted music data.
 156. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 155, further comprising a tone generator ofa frequency modulation type for generating the music tone.
 157. Theportable terminal apparatus according to claim 156, wherein the tonegenerator is comprised of a digital signal processor operated by amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 158. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 156, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 159. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim155, further comprising a tone generator having a wave-table memorystoring a waveform of the music tone for generating the music tone. 160.The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 159, wherein the tonegenerator is comprised of a digital signal processor operated by amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 161. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 159, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 162. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim155, further comprising a tone generator of a physical modeling type forgenerating the music tone.
 163. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 162, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 164. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 162,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a central processing unitexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 165. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 155, further comprising a tonegenerator constituted by a digital signal processor for executing amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 166. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 155, further comprising a tone generatorconstituted by a central processing unit for executing a software togenerate the music tone.
 167. A portable terminal apparatus having afirst capability of transmitting and receiving various information, anda second capability of generating a sequence of music tones representedby music information in association with the first capability, theportable terminal comprising: an acquiring section that acquires asample tone signal having a pitch sequence; an extracting section thatextracts the pitch sequence from the sample tone signal; and a creatingsection that creates the music information according to the pitchsequence.
 168. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 167,wherein the acquiring section includes a microphone for collecting thesample tone signal.
 169. The portable terminal apparatus according toclaim 167, further comprising a transmitting and receiving section tatcan receive information containing the sample tone signal, so that theacquiring section acquires the sample tone signal from the receivedinformation.
 170. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim171, further comprising a tone generator of a frequency modulation, typefor generating the music tone.
 171. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 170, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 172. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 170,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a central processing unitexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 173. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 167, further comprising a tonegenerator having a wave-table memory storing a waveform of the musictone for generating the music tone.
 174. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 173, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 175. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 173,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a central processing unitexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 176. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 167, further comprising a tonegenerator of a physical modeling type for generating the music tone.177. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 176, wherein thetone generator is comprised of a digital signal processor operated by amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 178. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 176, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 179. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim167, further comprising a tone generator constituted by a digital signalprocessor for executing a microprogram to generate the music tone. 180.The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 167, furthercomprising a tone generator constituted by a central processing unit forexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 181. A portableterminal apparatus having a first capability of transmitting andreceiving various information, and a second capability of generating asequence of music tones represented by music information in associationwith the first capability, the portable terminal apparatus comprising:an acquiring section that acquires a sample tone signal having a pitchsequence; an extracting section that extracts the pitch sequence fromthe sample tone signal; a transposing section that transposes theextracted pitch sequence; and a creating section that creates the musicinformation according to the transposed pitch sequence.
 182. Theportable terminal apparatus according to claim 181, further comprising atone generator of a frequency modulation type for generating the musictone.
 183. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 182,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a digital signal processoroperated by a microprogram to generate the music tone.
 184. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 182, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 185. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim181, further comprising a tone generator having a wave-table memorystoring a waveform of the music tone for generating the music tone. 186.The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 185, wherein the tonegenerator is comprised of a digital signal processor operated by amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 187. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 185, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 188. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim181, further comprising a tone generator of a physical modeling type forgenerating the music tone.
 189. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 188, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 190. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 188,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a central processing unitexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 191. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 181, further comprising a tonegenerator constituted by a digital signal processor for executing amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 192. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 181, further comprising a tone generatorconstituted by a central processing unit for executing a software togenerate the music tone.
 193. A portable terminal apparatus having afirst capability of transmitting and receiving various information, anda second capability of generating music tones in association with thefirst capability according to music information, the portable terminalapparatus comprising: a memory section that memorizes original musicinformation representing a sequence of music tones having a chordprogression; an analyzing section that analyzes the memorized originalmusic information to detect therefrom the chord progression; and anautomatic creating section that automatically creates new musicinformation according to the detected chord progression in matching withthe original music information.
 194. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 193, further comprising a tone generator of afrequency modulation type for generating the music tone.
 195. Theportable terminal apparatus according to claim 194, wherein the tonegenerator is comprised of a digital signal processor operated by amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 196. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 194, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 197. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim193, further comprising a tone generator having a wave-table memorystoring a waveform of the music tone for generating the music tone. 198.The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 197, wherein the tonegenerator is comprised of a digital signal processor operated by amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 199. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 197, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 200. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim193, further comprising a tone generator of a physical modeling type forgenerating the music tone.
 201. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 200, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 202. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 200,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a central processing unitexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 203. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 193, further comprising a tonegenerator constituted by a digital signal processor for executing amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 204. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 193, further comprising a tone generatorconstituted by a central processing unit for executing a software togenerate the music tone.
 205. A portable terminal apparatus having afirst capability of transmitting and receiving various information, anda second capability of generating a sequence of music tones representedby music information in association with the first capability, theportable terminal apparatus comprising: a memory section that memorizesa plurality of original music information representing differentsequences of music tones; and a creating section that connects thememorized different sequences of the music tones with each other inseries to create new music information representing a composite sequenceof the music tones.
 206. The portable terminal apparatus according toclaim 205, further comprising a tone generator of a frequency modulationtype for generating the music tone.
 207. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 206, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 208. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 206,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a central processing unitexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 209. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 205, further comprising a tonegenerator having a wave-table memory storing a waveform of the musictone for generating the music tone.
 210. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 209, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 211. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 209,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a central processing unitexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 212. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 205, further comprising a tonegenerator of a physical modeling type for generating the music tone.213. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 212, wherein thetone generator is comprised of a digital signal processor operated by amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 214. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 212, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 215. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim205, further comprising a tone generator constituted by a digital signalprocessor for executing a microprogram to generate the music tone. 216.The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 205, furthercomprising a tone generator constituted by a central processing unit forexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 217. A portableterminal apparatus having a main capability of transmitting andreceiving various information, and a sub capability of generating amusic tone represented by music information of a first format inassociation with the main capability, the portable terminal apparatuscomprising: an acquiring section that acquires music information of asecond format, which is invalid; and a converting section that convertsthe acquired music information from the second format to the firstformat, which is valid for generation of the music tone.
 218. Theportable terminal apparatus according to claim 217, further comprising atone generator of a frequency modulation type for generating the musictone.
 219. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 218,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a digital signal processoroperated by a microprogram to generate the music tone.
 220. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 218, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 221. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim217, further comprising a tone generator having a wave-table memorystoring a waveform of the music tone for generating the music tone. 222.The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 221, wherein the tonegenerator is comprised of a digital signal processor operated by amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 223. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 221, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 224. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim217, further comprising a tone generator of a physical modeling type forgenerating the music tone.
 225. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 224, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 226. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 224,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a central processing unitexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 227. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 217, further comprising a tonegenerator constituted by a digital signal processor for executing amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 228. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 217, further comprising a tone generatorconstituted by a central processing unit for executing a software togenerate the music tone.
 229. A system comprising a portable terminalhaving a main capability of transmitting and receiving variousinformation and a sub capability of generating a music tone representedby music information of a first format in association with the maincapability, and a base station that supports the portable terminal,wherein the base station comprises: an information source that storesmusic information of a second format, which is invalid for the portableterminal; a converting section that converts the stored musicinformation from the second format to the first format, which is validfor the portable terminal; and a transmitting section that transmits theconverted music information of the first format to the portableterminal.
 230. The system according to claim 229, wherein the portableterminal comprises a tone generator of a frequency modulation type forgenerating the music tone.
 231. The system according to claim 230,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a digital signal processoroperated by a microprogram to generate the music tone.
 232. The systemaccording to claim 230, wherein the tone generator is comprised of acentral processing unit executing a software to generate the music tone.233. The system according to claim 229, wherein the portable terminalcomprises a tone generator having a wave-table memory storing a waveformof the music tone for generating the music tone.
 234. The systemaccording to claim 233, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 235. The system according to claim 233, wherein the tonegenerator is comprised of a central processing unit executing a softwareto generate the music tone.
 236. The system according to claim 229,wherein the portable terminal comprises a tone generator of a physicalmodeling type for generating the music tone.
 237. The system accordingto claim 236, wherein the tone generator is comprised of a digitalsignal processor operated by a microprogram to generate the music tone.238. The system according to claim 236, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 239. The system according to claim 229, wherein theportable terminal comprises a tone generator constituted by a digitalsignal processor for executing a microprogram to generate the musictone.
 240. The system according to claim 229, wherein the portableterminal comprises a tone generator constituted by a central processingunit for executing a software to generate the music tone.
 241. A systemcomprising a portable terminal having a main capability of transmittingand receiving various information and a sub capability of generating amusic tone represented by music information of a predetermined format inassociation with the main capability, and a base station that supportsthe portable terminal, wherein the base station comprises: a receivingsection that receives identification information from the portableterminal for identifying the predetermined format valid in the portableterminal; a creating section that creates the music information of thepredetermined format according to the received identificationinformation; and a transmitting section that transmits the created musicinformation of the predetermined format to the portable terminal. 242.The system according to claim 241, wherein the portable terminalcomprises a tone generator of a frequency modulation type for generatingthe music tone.
 243. The system according to claim 242, wherein the tonegenerator is comprised of a digital signal processor operated by amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 244. The system according toclaim 242, wherein the tone generator is comprised of a centralprocessing unit executing a software to generate the music tone. 245.The system according to claim 241, wherein the portable terminalcomprises a tone generator having a wave-table memory storing a waveformof the music tone for generating the music tone.
 246. The systemaccording to claim 245, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 247. The system according to claim 245, wherein the tonegenerator is comprised of a central processing unit executing a softwareto generate the music tone.
 248. The system according to claim 241,wherein the portable terminal comprises a tone generator of a physicalmodeling type for generating the music tone.
 249. The system accordingto claim 248, wherein the tone generator is comprised of a digitalsignal processor operated by a microprogram to generate the music tone.250. The system according to claim 248, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 251. The system according to claim 241, wherein theportable terminal comprises a tone generator constituted by a digitalsignal processor for executing a microprogram to generate the musictone.
 252. The system according to claim 241, wherein the portableterminal comprises a tone generator constituted by a central processingunit for executing a software to generate the music tone.
 253. A basestation for supporting a portable terminal having a main capability oftransmitting and receiving various information and a sub capability ofgenerating a music tone represented by music information of a firstformat in association with the main capability, the base stationcomprising: an information source that stores music information of asecond format, which is invalid for the portable terminal; a convertingsection that converts the stored music information from the secondformat to the first format, which is valid for the portable terminal;and a transmitting section that transmits the converted musicinformation of the first format to the portable terminal.
 254. A basestation for supporting a portable terminal having a main capability oftransmitting and receiving various information and a sub capability ofgenerating a music tone represented by music information of apredetermined format in association with the main capability, the basestation comprising: a receiving section that receives identificationinformation from the portable terminal for identifying the predeterminedformat valid in the portable terminal; a creating section that createsthe music information of the predetermined format according to thereceived identification information; and a transmitting section thattransmits the created music information of the predetermined format tothe portable terminal.
 255. A portable terminal apparatus having a firstcapability of transmitting and receiving various information, and asecond capability of generating a sequence of music tones represented bymusic information in association with the first capability, the portableterminal apparatus comprising: a connector connectable to a removablecompact memory medium, which stores music information; a retrievingsection that retrieves the music information from the removable compactmemory medium; and a processing section that processes the retrievedmusic information for the generating of the music tone.
 256. Theportable terminal apparatus according to claim 255, further comprising atone generator of a frequency, modulation type for generating the musictone.
 257. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 256,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a digital signal processoroperated by a microprogram to generate the music tone.
 258. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 256, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 259. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim255, further comprising a tone generator having a wave-table memorystoring a waveform of the music tone for generating the music tone. 260.The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 259, wherein the tonegenerator is comprised of a digital signal processor operated by amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 261. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 259, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 262. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim255, further comprising a tone generator of a physical modeling type forgenerating the music tone.
 263. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 262, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 264. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 262,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a central processing unitexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 265. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 255, further comprising a tonegenerator constituted by a digital signal processor for executing amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 266. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 255, further comprising a tone generatorconstituted by a central processing unit for executing a software togenerate the music tone.
 267. A portable terminal apparatus having afirst capability of transmitting and receiving various information, anda second capability of generating a sequence of music tones representedby music information in association with the first capability, theportable terminal apparatus comprising: a processing section thatprocesses the music information for the generating of the music tones; aconnector connectable to a removable compact memory medium; and awriting section that writes the processed music information into theremovable compact memory for storage of the processed music information.268. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 267, furthercomprising a tone generator of a frequency modulation type forgenerating the music tone.
 269. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 268, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 270. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 268,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a central processing unitexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 271. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 267, further comprising a tonegenerator having a wave-table memory storing a waveform of the musictone for generating the music tone.
 272. The portable terminal apparatusaccording to claim 271, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 273. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 271,wherein the tone generator is comprised of a central processing unitexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 274. The portableterminal apparatus according to claim 267, further comprising a tonegenerator of a physical modeling type for generating the music tone.275. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 274, wherein thetone generator is comprised of a digital signal processor operated by amicroprogram to generate the music tone.
 276. The portable terminalapparatus according to claim 274, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 277. The portable terminal apparatus according to claim267, further comprising a tone generator constituted by a digital signalprocessor for executing a microprogram to generate the music tone. 278.The portable terminal apparatus according to claim 267 furthercomprising a tone generator constituted by a central processing unit forexecuting a software to generate the music tone.
 279. A systemcomprising a portable terminal having a first capability of transmittingand receiving various information, and a second capability of generatinga music tone represented by the music information in association withthe first capability, and a base station that supports the portableterminal, wherein the base station comprises: an information source thatstores music information; and a transmitting section that transmits thestored music information in the form of streaming data to the portableterminal, and wherein the portable terminal comprises: a receivingsection that receives the streaming data; and a reproducing section thatreproduces the music tone in real time according to the receivedstreaming data.
 280. The system according to claim 279, wherein thereproducing section comprises a tone generator of a frequency modulationtype for generating the music tone.
 281. The system according to claim280, wherein the tone generator is comprised of a digital signalprocessor operated by a microprogram to generate the music tone. 282.The system according to claim 280, wherein the tone generator iscomprised of a central processing unit executing a software to generatethe music tone.
 283. The system according to claim 279, wherein thereproducing section comprises a tone generator having a wave-tablememory storing a waveform of the music tone for generating the musictone.
 284. The system according to claim 283, wherein the tone generatoris comprised of a digital signal processor operated by a microprogram togenerate the music tone.
 285. The system according to claim 283, whereinthe tone generator is comprised of a central processing unit executing asoftware to generate the music tone.
 286. The system according to claim279, wherein the reproducing section comprises a tone generator of aphysical modeling type for generating the music tone.
 287. The systemaccording to claim 286, wherein the tone generator is comprised of adigital signal processor operated by a microprogram to generate themusic tone.
 288. The system according to claim 286, wherein the tonegenerator is comprised of a central processing unit executing a softwareto generate the music tone.
 289. The system according to claim 279,wherein the reproducing section comprises a tone generator constitutedby a digital signal processor for executing a microprogram to generatethe music tone.
 290. The system according to claim 279, wherein thereproducing section comprises a tone generator constituted by a centralprocessing unit for executing a software to generate the music tone.291. A base station for supporting a portable terminal having a firstcapability of transmitting and receiving various information and asecond capability of generating a music tone represented by the musicinformation in association with the first capability, the base stationcomprising: an information source that stores music information; and atransmitting section that transmits the stored music information in theform of streaming data to the portable terminal, so that the portableterminal can reproduce the music tone in real time in response to thetransmitted streaming data.
 292. A sound control method in a portableterminal for sounding a music tone in association with operation of theportable terminal, comprising the steps of: storing music informationrepresenting a music tone and configuration information associated to atimbre of the music tone in a memory; acquiring the music informationand the configuration information from the memory; and configuring atone generating section by the acquired configuration information tocreate a timbre specified by the configuration information; andoperating the tone generator according to the acquired music informationto generate the music tone being represented by the music informationand having the specified timbre.
 293. A method of sound control in aportable terminal for sounding a music tone, in association withoperation of the portable terminal, comprising the steps of: storingmusic information representing a music tone and configurationinformation associated to a timbre and an effect of the music tone;acquiring the music information and the configuration information fromthe memory; configuring a tone generator by the acquired configurationinformation to create a timbre specified by the configurationinformation; operating the tone generator according to the acquiredmusic information to generate the music tone being represented by themusic information and having the specified timbre; and configuring aneffector by the configuration information for applying an effectspecified by the configuration information to the generated music tone.294. A sound control method in a portable terminal for sounding a musictone in association with operation of the portable terminal which isexecuted by a first processor, the sound control method comprising thesteps of: memorizing music information representing a music tone andconfiguration information associated to a timbre of the music tone;acquiring the music information and the configuration information fromthe memory; configuring a tone generator by the acquired configurationinformation to create a timbre specified by the configurationinformation; operating the tone generator according to the acquiredmusic information to generate the music tone being represented by themusic information and having the specified timbre; and using a secondprocessor provided separately from the first processor for controllingthe memory and the tone generator.
 295. A sound control method in aportable terminal for sounding a music tone in association withoperation of the portable terminal which is executed by a firstprocessor, the sound control method comprising the steps of: memorizingmusic information representing a music tone and configurationinformation associated to a timbre and an effect of the music tone in amemory; acquiring the music information and the configurationinformation from the memory; configuring a tone generator by theacquired configuration information to create a timbre and an effectspecified by the configuration information; operating the tone generatoraccording to the acquired music information to generate the music tonebeing represented by the music information and having the specifiedtimbre and the effect; and using a second processor provided separatelyfrom the first processor for controlling the memory and the tonegenerator.
 296. A method of using a portable terminal, comprising thesteps of: operating a communication device that transmits and receivesvarious information; storing various information including musicinformation representative of a music tone, configuration informationassociated to a timbre of the music tone, and voice informationrepresentative of a speech voice; configuring a tone generator accordingto the configuration information for generating the music tone accordingto the music information with the timbre specified by the configurationinformation; and operating an audio device for processing the voiceinformation stored in the memory so as to reproduce the speech voicerepresented by the voice information.
 297. A method of operating aportable terminal, comprising the steps of: operating a communicationdevice that transmits and receives various information: storing variousinformation including music information representative of a music tone,configuration information associated to a timbre of the music tone, andpicture information representative of a visual image; configuring a tonegenerator according to the configuration information for generating themusic tone according to the music information with the timbre specifiedby the configuration information; and operating a video device toprocess the picture information stored in the memory for reproducing thevisual image represented by the picture information.
 298. A method ofoperating a portable terminal, comprising the steps of: operating acommunication device that transmits and receives various information;operating a memory to store various information including musicinformation representative of a music tone, configuration informationassociated to a timbre and an effect of the music tone, voiceinformation representative of a speech voice, and picture informationrepresentative of a visual image; configuring a tone generator accordingto the configuration information for generating the music tone accordingto the music information with the timbre and the effect specified by theconfiguration information; operating an audio device to process thevoice information stored in the memory for reproducing the speech voicerepresented by the voice information; and operating a video device thatprocesses the picture information stored in the memory for reproducingthe visual image represented by the picture information.
 299. A methodof operating a system designed for dealing with music information, andcomprised of a portable terminal having a capability of generating amusic tone and a base station having a source of music information, themethod comprising the steps of: selecting music information from thesource in the base station in response to request informationtransmitted from the portable terminal, setting the selected musicinformation in the base station by configuration information effectiveto specify a timbre of a music tone determined by the selected musicinformation; transmitting the selected music information together withthe configuration information from the base station to the portableterminal; operating a memory in the portable terminal to store the musicinformation transmitted from the base station; configuring a tonegenerator in the portable terminal by the configuration informationtransmitted from the base station; and operating the tone generator inthe portable terminal based on the transmitted music information togenerate the music tone having the specified timbre.
 300. A method ofoperating a system designed for dealing with music information, andcomprised of a portable terminal having a capability of generating amusic tone and a base station having a source of music information, themethod comprising the steps of: selecting music information from thesource in the base station in response to request informationtransmitted from the portable terminal, setting the selected musicinformation in the base station by configuration information effectiveto specify a timbre and an effect of a music tone determined by theselected music information; transmitting the selected music informationtogether with the configuration information from the base station to theportable terminal; operating a memory in the portable terminal to storethe music information transmitted from the base station; configuring atone generator in the portable terminal by the configuration informationtransmitted from the base station; and operating the tone generator inthe portable terminal based on the transmitted music information togenerate the music tone having the specified timbre and the specifiedeffect.
 301. A method of operating a base station for receiving requestinformation from a portable terminal and for transmitting musicinformation to the portable terminal in response to the requestinformation, the method comprising the steps of: selecting musicinformation from an information source in response to the requestinformation transmitted from the portable terminal; setting the selectedmusic information by configuration information effective to specify atimbre of a music tone determined by the selected music information; andtransmitting the selected music information together with theconfiguration information to the portable terminal so that the portableterminal can generate the music tone having the specified timbre.
 302. Amethod of operating a base station for receiving, request informationfrom a portable terminal and for transmitting music information to theportable terminal in response to the request information, the methodcomprising the steps of: selecting music information from an informationsource in response to the request information transmitted from theportable terminal; setting the selected music information byconfiguration information effective to specify a timbre and an effectapplied to a music tone determined by the selected music information;and transmitting the selected music information together with theconfiguration information to the portable terminal so that the portableterminal can generate the music tone having the specified timbre and thespecified effect.
 303. A method of operating a system comprised of aportable terminal apparatus having a capability of generating a musictone, and a music information processing apparatus capable of creatingand editing music information representative of a music tone, the methodcomprising the steps of: creating and editing music information in themusic information processing apparatus; compressing the musicinformation in the music information processing apparatus; transmittingthe compressed music information from the music information processingapparatus to the portable terminal apparatus; operating a memory in theportable terminal apparatus for memorizing the compressed musicinformation which is passed from the music information processingapparatus; and operating a tone generator in the portable terminalapparatus based on the memorized music information to generate a musicaltone having a predetermined timbre.
 304. A method of operating a systemcomprised of a portable terminal apparatus having a capability ofgenerating a music tone, and a music information processing apparatuscapable of creating and editing music information representative of amusic tone, the method comprising the steps of: creating and editingmusic information in the music information processing apparatus;compressing the music information in the music information processingapparatus; transmitting the compressed music information from the musicinformation processing apparatus to the portable terminal apparatus;operating a memory in the portable terminal apparatus for memorizing thecompressed music information which is passed from the music informationprocessing apparatus; and operating a tone generator in the portableterminal apparatus based on the memorized music information to generatea musical tone having a predetermined timbre and being applied with apredetermined effect.
 305. A method of operating a music informationprocessing apparatus capable of creating and editing music informationrepresentative of a music tone and transmitting the music information toa portable terminal apparatus having a capability of generating a musictone, the method comprising the steps of: creating and editing musicinformation; compressing the music information; and transmitting thecompressed music information to the portable terminal apparatus so thatthe portable terminal apparatus operates based on the transmitted musicinformation to generate a music tone having a predetermined timbre. 306.A method of operating a portable terminal apparatus having a firstcapability of transmitting and receiving various information includingmusic information, and a second capability of generating a desired musictone according to music information reserved in an information source inassociation with the first capability, the method comprising the stepsof: retrieving music information from the information source; operatinga memory for memorizing the retrieved music information; editing thememorized music information; and operating a tone generator based on theedited music information to generate a desired music tone having apredetermined timbre.
 307. A method of operating a portable terminalapparatus having a first capability of transmitting and receivingvarious information including music information, and a second capabilityof generating a desired music tone according to music informationreserved in an information source in association with the firstcapability, the method comprising the steps of: retrieving musicinformation from the information source; operating a memory formemorizing the retrieved music information; editing the memorized musicinformation; and operating a tone generator based on the edited musicinformation to generate a desired music tone having a predeterminedtimbre and a predetermined effect.
 308. A method of operating a portableterminal apparatus having a communication device, a memory, a tonegenerator and a display monitor for presenting information, comprisingthe steps of: operating the communication device to transmit and receivevarious information; operating the memory to store karaoke informationincluding music information representing a music piece and lyricinformation representing words corresponding to the music piece;controlling the tone generator according to the music information forgenerating tones of the music piece; and controlling the display monitoraccording to the lyric information for displaying the words in parallelto progression of the music piece.
 309. A method of operating a portableterminal apparatus having a communication device, a memory, a tonegenerator and a display monitor for presenting information, the methodcomprising the steps of: operating the communication device to exchangea talk voice with a ringing tone; operating the memory to store karaokeinformation including music information representing a music piece andlyric information representing words corresponding to the music piece;controlling the tone generator according to the music information forgenerating tones of the music piece; controlling the display monitoraccording to the lyric information for displaying the words in parallelto progression of the music piece; and controlling the tone generatoraccording to a command from the communication device for stopping thetones of the music piece and for starting the ringing tone.
 310. Amethod of operating a portable terminal apparatus having a firstcapability of transmitting and receiving various information, and asecond capability of generating a music tone in association with thefirst capability according to music information, the method comprisingthe steps of: operating a memory to memorize the music informationhaving a parameter characterizing the music tone; displaying theparameter of the music information; and editing the displayed parameterto modify the music tone.
 311. A method of operating a portable terminalapparatus having a first capability of transmitting and receivingvarious information, and a second capability of generating a music tonein association with the first capability according to music information,the method comprising the steps of: operating a memory for memorizingthe music information representing the music tone; designating a tempoof the music tone; and generating the music tone based on the memorizedmusic information at the designated tempo.
 312. A method of operating aportable terminal apparatus having a first capability of transmittingand receiving various information, and a second capability of generatinga music tone in association with the first capability according to musicinformation, the method comprising the steps of: operating a memory formemorizing the music information representing the music tone; setting amood of the music tone; and generating the music tone based on thememorized music information under the set mood.
 313. A method ofoperating a portable terminal apparatus having a first capability oftransmitting and receiving various information, and a second capabilityof generating a tone of a music piece represented by music data inassociation with the first capability, the method comprising the stepsof: inputting music data representing a part of the music piece; andautomatically synthesizing the whole of the music piece according to theinputted music data.
 314. A method of operating a portable terminalapparatus having a first capability of transmitting and receivingvarious information, and a second capability of generating a sequence ofmusic tones represented by music information in association with thefirst capability, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring a sampletone signal having a pitch sequence; extracting the pitch sequence fromthe sample tone signal; and creating the music information according tothe pitch sequence.
 315. A method of operating a portable terminalapparatus having a first capability of transmitting and receivingvarious information, and a second capability of generating a sequence ofmusic tones represented by music information in association with thefirst capability, the method comprising the steps of: acquiring a sampletone signal having a pitch sequence; extracting the pitch sequence fromthe sample tone signal; transposing the extracted pitch sequence; andcreating the music information according to the transposed pitchsequence.
 316. A method of operating a portable terminal apparatushaving a first capability of transmitting and receiving variousinformation, and a second capability of generating music tones inassociation with the first capability according to music information,the method comprising the steps of: operating a memory for memorizingoriginal music information representing a sequence of music tones havinga chord progression; analyzing the memorized original music informationto detect therefrom the chord progression; and automatically creatingnew music information according to the detected chord progression inmatching with the original music information.
 317. A method of operatinga portable terminal apparatus having a first capability of transmittingand receiving various information, and a second capability of generatinga sequence of music tones represented by music information inassociation with the first capability, the method comprising the stepsof: operating a memory for memorizing a plurality of original musicinformation representing different sequences of music tones; andconnecting the memorized different sequences of the music tones witheach other in series to create new music information representing acomposite sequence of the music tones.
 318. A method of operating aportable terminal apparatus having a main capability of transmitting andreceiving various information, and a sub capability of generating amusic tone represented by music information of a first format inassociation with the main capability, the method comprising the stepsof: acquiring music information of a second format, which is invalid;and converting the acquired music information from the second format tothe first format, which is valid for generation of the music tone. 319.A method of operating a system composed of a portable terminal having amain capability of transmitting and receiving various information and asub capability of generating a music tone represented by musicinformation of a first format in association with the main capability,and a base station that supports the portable terminal, the methodcomprising the steps of: operating an information source in the basestation for storing music information of a second format, which isinvalid for the portable terminal; converting the stored musicinformation in the base station from the second format to the firstformat, which is valid for the portable terminal; and transmitting theconverted music information of the first format from the base station tothe portable terminal.
 320. A method of operating a system composed of aportable terminal having a main capability of transmitting and receivingvarious information and a sub capability of generating a music tonerepresented by music information of a predetermined format inassociation with the main capability, and a base station that supportsthe portable terminal, the method comprising the steps of: receivingidentification information in the base station from the portableterminal for identifying the predetermined format valid in the portableterminal; creating the music information of the predetermined format inthe base station according to the received identification information;and transmitting the created music information of the predeterminedformat from the base station to the portable terminal.
 321. A method ofoperating a base station for supporting a portable terminal having amain capability of transmitting and receiving various information and asub capability of generating a music tone represented by musicinformation of a first format in association with the main capability,the method comprising the steps of: operating an information source forstoring music information of a second format, which is invalid for theportable terminal; converting the stored music information from thesecond format to the first format, which is valid for the portableterminal; and transmitting the converted music information of the firstformat to the portable terminal.
 322. A method of operating a basestation for supporting a portable terminal having a main capability oftransmitting and receiving various information and a sub capability ofgenerating a music tone represented by music information of apredetermined format in association with the main capability, the methodcomprising the steps of: receiving identification information from theportable terminal for identifying the predetermined format valid in theportable terminal; creating the music information of the predeterminedformat according to the received identification information; andtransmitting the created music information of the predetermined formatto the portable terminal.
 323. A method of operating a portable terminalapparatus having a first capability of transmitting and receivingvarious information, and a second capability of generating a sequence ofmusic tones represented by music information in association with thefirst capability, the method comprising the steps of: connecting aremovable compact memory medium, which stores music information;retrieving the music information from the connected removable compactmemory medium; and processing the retrieved music information forgenerating the music tone.
 324. A method of operating a portableterminal apparatus having a first capability of transmitting andreceiving various information, and a second capability of generating asequence of music tones represented by music information in associationwith the first capability, the method comprising the steps of:processing the music information for the generating of the music tones;connecting a removable compact memory medium; and writing the processedmusic information into the connected removable compact memory forstorage of the processed music information.
 325. A method of operating asystem comprised of a portable terminal having a first capability oftransmitting and receiving various information and a second capabilityof generating a music tone represented by the music information inassociation with the first capability, and a base station that supportsthe portable terminal, the method comprising the steps of: operating aninformation source in the base station for storing music information;transmitting the stored music information in the form of streaming datafrom the base station to the portable terminal; receiving the streamingdata by the portable terminal apparatus; and reproducing the music toneby the portable terminal apparatus in real time according to thereceived streaming data.
 326. A method of operating a base station forsupporting a portable terminal having a first capability of transmittingand receiving various information and a second capability of generatinga music tone represented by the music information in association withthe first capability, the method comprising the steps of: operating aninformation source for storing music information; and transmitting thestored music information in the form of streaming data to the portableterminal, so that the portable terminal can reproduce the music tone inreal time in response to the transmitted streaming data.
 327. A machinereadable medium for use in a sound control apparatus having a processorand being provided in a portable terminal for sounding a music tone inassociation with operation of the portable terminal, the mediumcontaining program instructions executable by the processor for causingthe sound control apparatus to perform a method comprising the steps of:storing music information representing a music tone and configurationinformation associated to a timbre of the music tone in a memory;acquiring the music information and the configuration information fromthe memory; and configuring a tone generating section by the acquiredconfiguration information to create a timbre specified by theconfiguration information; and operating the tone generator according tothe acquired music information to generate the music tone beingrepresented by the music information and having the specified timbre.328. A machine readable medium for use in a sound control apparatushaving a processor and provided in a portable terminal for sounding amusic tone in association with operation of the portable terminal, themedium containing program instructions executable by the processor forcausing the sound control apparatus to perform a method comprising thesteps of: storing music information representing a music tone andconfiguration information associated to a timbre and an effect of themusic tone; acquiring the music information and the configurationinformation from the memory; configuring a tone generator by theacquired configuration information to create a timbre specified by theconfiguration information; operating the tone generator according to theacquired music information to generate the music tone being representedby the music information and having the specified timbre; andconfiguring an effector by the configuration information for applying aneffect specified by the configuration information to the generated musictone.
 329. A machine readable medium for use in a sound controlapparatus having a sub processor and provided in a portable terminal forsounding a music tone in association with operation of the portableterminal which is executed by a main processor, the medium containingprogram instructions executable by the sub processor for causing thesound control apparatus to perform a method comprising the steps of:memorizing music information representing a music tone and configurationinformation associated to a timbre of the music tone; acquiring themusic information and the configuration information from the memory;configuring a tone generator by the acquired configuration informationto create a timbre specified by the configuration information; operatingthe tone generator according to the acquired music information togenerate the music tone being represented by the music information andhaving the specified timbre; and using the sub processor providedseparately from the main processor exclusively for controlling thememory and the tone generator.
 330. A machine readable medium for use ina sound control apparatus having a sub processor and provided in aportable terminal for sounding a music tone in association withoperation of the portable terminal which is executed by a mainprocessor, the medium containing program instructions executable by thesub processor for causing the sound control apparatus to perform amethod comprising the steps of: memorizing music informationrepresenting a music tone and configuration information associated to atimbre and an effect of the music tone in a memory; acquiring the musicinformation and the configuration information from the memory;configuring a tone generator by the acquired configuration informationto create a timbre and an effect specified by the configurationinformation; operating the tone generator according to the acquiredmusic information to generate the music tone being represented by themusic information and having the specified timbre and the effect; andusing the sub processor provided separately from the main processorexclusively for controlling the memory and the tone generator.
 331. Amachine readable medium for use in a portable terminal having aprocessor, the medium containing program instructions executable by theprocessor for causing the portable terminal to perform a methodcomprising the steps of: operating a communication device that transmitsand receives various information; storing various information includingmusic information representative of a music tone, configurationinformation associated to a timbre of the music tone, and voiceinformation representative of a speech voice; configuring a tonegenerator according to the configuration information for generating themusic tone according to the music information with the timbre specifiedby the configuration information; and operating an audio device forprocessing the voice information stored in the memory so as to reproducethe speech voice represented by the voice information.
 332. A machinereadable medium for use in a portable terminal having a processor, themedium containing program instructions executable by the processor forcausing the portable terminal to perform a method comprising the stepsof: operating a communication device that transmits and receives variousinformation; storing various information including music informationrepresentative of a music tone, configuration information associated toa timbre of the music tone, and picture information representative of avisual image; configuring a tone generator according to theconfiguration information for generating the music tone according to themusic information with the timbre specified by the configurationinformation; and operating a video device to process the pictureinformation stored in the memory for reproducing the visual imagerepresented by the picture information.
 333. A machine readable mediumfor use in a portable terminal having a processor, the medium containingprogram instructions executable by the processor for causing theportable terminal to perform a method comprising the steps of: operatinga communication device that transmits and receives various information;operating a memory to store various information including musicinformation representative of a music tone, configuration informationassociated to a timbre and an effect of the music tone, voiceinformation representative of a speech voice, and picture informationrepresentative of a visual image; configuring a tone generator accordingto the configuration information for generating the music tone accordingto the music information with the timbre and the effect specified by theconfiguration information; operating an audio device to process thevoice information stored in the memory for reproducing the speech voicerepresented by the voice information; and operating a video device thatprocesses the picture information stored in the memory for reproducingthe visual image represented by the picture information.
 334. A machinereadable medium for use in a system having a processor for dealing withmusic information, and being comprised of a portable terminal having acapability of generating a music tone and a base station having a sourceof music information, the medium containing program instructionsexecutable by the processor for causing the system to perform a methodcomprising the steps of: selecting music information from the source inthe base station in response to request information transmitted from theportable terminal, setting the selected music information in the basestation by configuration information effective to specify a timbre of amusic tone determined by the selected music information; transmittingthe selected music information together with the configurationinformation from the base station to the portable terminal; operating amemory in the portable terminal to store the music informationtransmitted from the base station; configuring a tone generator in theportable terminal by the configuration information transmitted from thebase station; and operating the tone generator in the portable terminalbased on the transmitted music information to generate the music tonehaving the specified timbre.
 335. A machine readable medium for use in asystem having a processor for dealing with music information, and beingcomprised of a portable terminal having a capability of generating amusic tone and a base station having a source of music information, themedium containing program instructions executable by the processor forcausing the system to perform a method comprising the steps of:selecting music information from the source in the base station inresponse to request information transmitted from the portable terminal,setting the selected music information in the base station byconfiguration information effective to specify a timbre and an effect ofa music tone determined by the selected music information; transmittingthe selected music information together with the configurationinformation from the base station to the portable terminal; operating amemory in the portable terminal to store the music informationtransmitted from the base station; configuring a tone generator in theportable terminal by the configuration information transmitted from thebase station; and operating the tone generator in the portable terminalbased on the transmitted music information to generate the music tonehaving the specified timbre and the specified effect.
 336. A machinereadable medium for use in a base station having a processor forreceiving request information from a portable terminal and fortransmitting music information to the portable terminal in response tothe request information, the medium containing program instructionsexecutable by the processor for causing the base station to perform amethod comprising the steps of: selecting music information from aninformation source in response to the request information transmittedfrom the portable terminal; setting the selected music information byconfiguration information effective to specify a timbre of a music tonedetermined by the selected music information; and transmitting theselected music information together with the configuration informationto the portable terminal so that the portable terminal can generate themusic tone having the specified timbre.
 337. A machine readable mediumfor use in a base station for receiving request information from aportable terminal and for transmitting music information to the portableterminal in response to the request information, the medium containingprogram instructions executable by the processor for causing the basestation to perform a method comprising the steps of: selecting musicinformation from an information source in response to the requestinformation transmitted from the portable terminal; setting the selectedmusic information by configuration information effective to specify atimbre and an effect applied to a music tone determined by the selectedmusic information; and transmitting the selected music informationtogether with the configuration information to the portable terminal sothat the portable terminal can generate the music tone having thespecified timbre and the specified effect.
 338. A machine readablemedium for use in a system having a processor and being comprised of aportable terminal apparatus having a capability of generating a musictone, and a music information processing apparatus capable of creatingand editing music information representative of a music tone, the mediumcontaining program instructions executable by the processor for causingthe system to perform a method comprising the steps of: creating andediting music information in the music information processing apparatus;compressing the music information in the music information processingapparatus; transmitting the compressed music information from the musicinformation processing apparatus to the portable terminal apparatus;operating a memory in the portable terminal apparatus for memorizing thecompressed music information which is passed from the music informationprocessing apparatus; and operating a tone generator in the portableterminal apparatus based on the memorized music information to generatea musical tone having a predetermined timbre.
 339. A machine readablemedium for use in a system having a processor and being comprised of aportable terminal apparatus having a capability of generating a musictone, and a music information processing apparatus capable of creatingand editing music information representative of a music tone, the mediumcontaining program instructions executable by the processor for causingthe system to perform a method comprising the steps of: creating andediting music information in the music information processing apparatus;compressing the music information in the music information processingapparatus; transmitting the compressed music information from the musicinformation processing apparatus to the portable terminal apparatus;operating a memory in the portable terminal apparatus for memorizing thecompressed music information which is passed from the music informationprocessing apparatus; and operating a tone generator in the portableterminal apparatus based on the memorized music information to generatea musical tone having a predetermined timbre and being applied with apredetermined effect.
 340. A machine readable medium for use in a musicinformation processing apparatus having a processor and being capable ofcreating and editing music information representative of a music toneand transmitting the music information to a portable terminal apparatushaving a capability of generating a music tone, the medium containingprogram instructions executable by the processor for causing the musicalinformation processing apparatus to perform a method comprising thesteps of: creating and editing music information; compressing the musicinformation; and transmitting the compressed music information to theportable terminal apparatus so that the portable terminal apparatusoperates based on the transmitted music information to generate a musictone having a predetermined timbre.
 341. A machine readable medium foruse in a portable terminal apparatus having a processor to provide afirst capability of transmitting and receiving various informationincluding music information, and a second capability of generating adesired music tone according to music information reserved in aninformation source in association with the first capability, the mediumcontaining program instructions executable by the processor for causingthe portable terminal apparatus to perform a method comprising the stepsof: retrieving music information from the information source; operatinga memory for memorizing the retrieved music information; editing thememorized music information; and operating a tone generator based on theedited music information to generate a desired music tone having apredetermined timbre.
 342. A machine readable medium for use in aportable terminal apparatus having a processor to provide a firstcapability of transmitting and receiving various information includingmusic information, and a second capability of generating a desired musictone according to music information reserved in an information source inassociation with the first capability, the medium containing programinstructions executable by the processor for causing the portableterminal apparatus to perform a method comprising the steps of:retrieving music information from the information source; operating amemory for memorizing the retrieved music information; editing thememorized music information; and operating a tone generator based on theedited music information to generate a desired music tone having apredetermined timbre and a predetermined effect.
 343. A machine readablemedium for use in a portable terminal apparatus having a processor, acommunication device, a memory, a tone generator and a display monitorfor presenting information, the medium containing program instructionsexecutable by the processor for causing the portable terminal apparatusto perform a method comprising the steps of: operating the communicationdevice to transmit and receive various information; operating the memoryto store karaoke information including music information representing amusic piece and lyric information representing words corresponding tothe music piece; controlling the tone generator according to the musicinformation for generating tones of the music piece; and controlling thedisplay monitor according to the lyric information for displaying thewords in parallel to progression of the music piece.
 344. A machinereadable medium for use in a portable terminal apparatus having aprocessor, a communication device, a memory, a tone generator and adisplay monitor for presenting information, the medium containingprogram instructions executable by the processor for causing theportable terminal apparatus to perform a method comprising the steps of:operating the communication device to exchange a talk voice with aringing tone; operating the memory to store karaoke informationincluding music information representing a music piece and lyricinformation representing words corresponding to the music piece;controlling the tone generator according to the music information forgenerating tones of the music piece; controlling the display monitoraccording to the lyric information for displaying the words in parallelto progression of the music piece; and controlling the tone generatoraccording to a command from the communication device for stopping thetones of the music piece and for starting the ringing tone.
 345. Amachine readable medium for use in a portable terminal apparatus havinga processor to provide a first capability of transmitting and receivingvarious information, and a second capability of generating a music tonein association with the first capability according to music information,the medium containing program instructions executable by the processorfor causing the portable terminal apparatus to perform a methodcomprising the steps of: operating a memory to memorize the musicinformation having a parameter characterizing the music tone; displayingthe parameter of the music information; and editing the displayedparameter to modify the music tone.
 346. A machine readable medium foruse in a portable terminal apparatus having a processor to provide afirst capability of transmitting and receiving various information, anda second capability of generating a music tone in association with thefirst capability according to music information, the medium containingprogram instructions executable by the processor for causing theportable terminal apparatus to perform a method comprising the steps of:operating a memory for memorizing the music information representing themusic tone; designating a tempo of the music tone; and generating themusic tone based on the memorized music information at the designatedtempo.
 347. A machine readable medium for use in a portable terminalapparatus having a processor to provide a first capability oftransmitting and receiving various information, and a second capabilityof generating a music tone in association with the first capabilityaccording to music information, the medium containing programinstructions executable by the processor for causing the portableterminal apparatus to perform a method comprising the steps of:operating a memory for memorizing the music information representing themusic tone; setting a mood of the music tone; and generating the musictone based on the memorized music information under the set mood.
 348. Amachine readable medium for use in a portable terminal apparatus havinga processor to provide a first capability of transmitting and receivingvarious information, and a second capability of generating a tone of amusic piece represented by music data in association with the firstcapability, the medium containing program instructions executable by theprocessor for causing the portable terminal apparatus to perform amethod comprising the steps of: inputting music data representing a partof the music piece; and automatically synthesizing the whole of themusic, piece according to the inputted music data.
 349. A machinereadable medium for use in a portable terminal apparatus having aprocessor to provide a first capability of transmitting and receivingvarious information, and a second capability of generating a sequence ofmusic tones represented by music information in association with thefirst capability, the medium containing program instructions executableby the processor for causing the portable terminal apparatus to performa method comprising the steps of: acquiring a sample tone signal havinga pitch sequence; extracting the pitch sequence from the sample tonesignal; and creating the music information according to the pitchsequence.
 350. A machine readable medium for use in a portable terminalapparatus having a processor to provide a first capability oftransmitting and receiving various information, and a second capabilityof generating a sequence of music tones represented by music informationin association with the first capability, the medium containing programinstructions executable by the processor for causing the portableterminal apparatus to perform a method comprising the steps of:acquiring a sample tone signal having a pitch sequence; extracting thepitch sequence from the sample tone signal; transposing the extractedpitch sequence; and creating the music information according to thetransposed pitch sequence.
 351. A machine readable medium for use in aportable terminal apparatus having a processor to provide a firstcapability of transmitting and receiving various information, and asecond capability of generating music tones in association with thefirst capability according to music information, the medium containingprogram instructions executable by the processor for causing theportable terminal apparatus to perform a method comprising the steps of:operating a memory for memorizing original music informationrepresenting a sequence of music tones having a chord progression;analyzing the memorized original music information to detect therefromthe chord progression; and automatically creating new music informationaccording to the detected chord progression in matching with theoriginal music information.
 352. A machine readable medium for use in aportable terminal apparatus having a processor to provide a firstcapability of transmitting and receiving various information, and asecond capability of generating a sequence of music tones represented bymusic information in association with the first capability, the mediumcontaining program instructions executable by the processor for causingthe portable terminal apparatus to perform a method comprising the stepsof: operating a memory for memorizing a plurality of original musicinformation representing different sequences of music tones; andconnecting the memorized different sequences of the music tones witheach other in series to create new music information representing acomposite sequence of the music tones.
 353. A machine readable mediumfor use in a portable terminal apparatus having a processor to provide amain capability of transmitting and receiving various information, and asub capability of generating a music tone represented by musicinformation of a first format in association with the main capability,the medium containing program instructions executable by the processorfor causing the portable terminal apparatus to perform a methodcomprising the steps of: acquiring music information of a second format,which is invalid; and converting the acquired music information from thesecond format to the first format, which is valid for generation of themusic tone.
 354. A machine readable medium for use in a system having aprocessor and being composed of a portable terminal having a maincapability of transmitting and receiving various information and a subcapability of generating a music tone represented by music informationof a first format in association with the main capability, and a basestation that supports the portable terminal, the medium containingprogram instructions executable by the processor for causing the systemto perform a method comprising the steps of: operating an informationsource in the base station for storing music information of a secondformat, which is invalid for the portable terminal; converting thestored music information in the base station from the second format tothe first format, which is valid for the portable terminal; andtransmitting the converted music information of the first format fromthe base station to the portable terminal.
 355. A machine readablemedium for use in a system having a processor and being composed of aportable terminal having a main capability of transmitting and receivingvarious information and a sub capability of generating a music tonerepresented by music information of a predetermined format inassociation with the main capability, and a base station that supportsthe portable terminal, the medium containing program instructionsexecutable by the processor for causing the system to perform a methodcomprising the steps of: receiving identification information in thebase station from the portable terminal for identifying thepredetermined format valid in the portable terminal; creating the musicinformation of the predetermined format in the base station according tothe received identification information; and transmitting the createdmusic information of the predetermined format from the base station tothe portable terminal.
 356. A machine readable medium for use in a basestation having a processor for supporting a portable terminal having amain capability of transmitting and receiving various information and asub capability of generating a music tone represented by musicinformation of a first format in association with the main capability,the medium containing program instructions executable by the processorfor causing the base station to perform a method comprising the stepsof: operating an information source for storing music information of asecond format, which is invalid for the portable terminal; convertingthe stored music information from the second format to the first format,which is valid for the portable terminal; and transmitting the convertedmusic information of the first format to the portable terminal.
 357. Amachine readable medium for use in a base station having a processor forsupporting a portable terminal having a main capability of transmittingand receiving various information and a sub capability of generating amusic tone represented by music information of a predetermined format inassociation with the main capability, the medium containing programinstructions executable by the processor for causing the base station toperform a method comprising the steps of: receiving identificationinformation from the portable terminal for identifying the predeterminedformat valid in the portable terminal; creating the music information ofthe predetermined format according to the received identificationinformation; and transmitting the created music information of thepredetermined format to the portable terminal.
 358. A machine readablemedium for use in a portable terminal apparatus having a processor toprovide a first capability of transmitting and receiving variousinformation, and a second capability of generating a sequence of musictones represented by music information in association with the firstcapability, the medium containing program instructions executable by theprocessor for causing the portable terminal apparatus to perform amethod comprising the steps of: connecting a removable compact memorymedium, which stores music information; retrieving the music informationfrom the connected removable compact memory medium; and processing theretrieved music information for generating the music tone.
 359. Amachine readable medium for use in a portable terminal apparatus havinga processor to provide a first capability of transmitting and receivingvarious information, and a second capability of generating a sequence ofmusic tones represented by music information in association with thefirst capability, the medium containing program instructions executableby the processor for causing the portable terminal apparatus to performa method comprising the steps of: processing the music information forthe generating of the music tones; connecting a removable compact memorymedium; and writing the processed music information into the connectedremovable compact memory for storage of the processed music information.360. A machine readable medium for use in a system having a processorand being comprised of a portable terminal having a first capability oftransmitting and receiving various information and a second capabilityof generating a music tone represented by the music information inassociation with the first capability, and a base station that supportsthe portable terminal, the medium containing program instructionsexecutable by the processor for causing the system to perform a methodcomprising the steps of: operating an information source in the basestation for storing music information; transmitting the stored musicinformation in the form of streaming data from the base station to theportable terminal; receiving the streaming data by the portable terminalapparatus; and reproducing the music tone by the portable terminalapparatus in real time according to the received streaming data.
 361. Amachine readable medium for use in a base station having a processor forsupporting a portable terminal having a first capability of transmittingand receiving various information and a second capability of generatinga music tone represented by the music information in association withthe first capability, the medium containing program instructionsexecutable by the processor for causing the base station to perform amethod comprising the steps of: operating an information source forstoring music information; and transmitting the stored music informationin the form of streaming data to the portable terminal, so that theportable terminal can reproduce the music tone in real time in responseto the transmitted streaming data.